New stop-motion flick, Hidari, snags Keanu Reeves

Beloved actor Keanu Reeves has found himself in the starring role of Masashi Kawamura’s Hidari, a stop-motion animated samurai flick that stems from his viral 2023 proof-of-concept. The film, which is loosely inspired by Jingoro Hidari, a legendary Edo period carpenter, focuses on him enacting vengeance after a trifecta of bad things happen — he loses father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm.

In it for revenge, he creates prosthetic arms and sets out alongside his wooden companion, the Sleeping Cat. In a statement about landing the role, which was revealed at Cannes 2026 Reeves says he’s thrilled about the film, saying the team created “something truly extraordinary.”

“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari. From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary. It has all the makings of an exceptional film — one I’m excited to see and eager to be part of. I believe this project has the potential to bring something very special to audiences worldwide.”

Now, Reeves is no stranger to animated roles — he’s portrayed Duke Caboom in the slightly maligned Toy Story 4 and took the role of the gun-wielding Shadow the Hedgehog in 2024’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Currently, there isn’t a release date set for Hidari.