Keanu Reeves has led several major blockbuster franchises, most notably playing Neo in The Matrix and the titular assassin in the John Wick series, but now he has lined up his next big action role, starring as the lead protagonist in the samurai epic Hidari.
According to an official press release, Reeves will voice the lead character of Hidari Jingoro in the stop-motion movie, which is described as "a story of revenge and rebirth" set during Japan's Edo period.
Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin in John Wick: Chapter 4 LionsgateHidari is a large-scale expansion of Kawamura's viral 2023 proof-of-concept short film, which told a story using intricately carved wooden puppets.
And when I made my own personal dream list of actors, I hoped could someday be part of the feature adaptation, the very first name I wrote down was Keanu Reeves.
Quiz 5 Questions Vengeance In Wood And Motion: A Keanu Reeves Hidari Quiz Your Top Score -- Attempts -- Start Quiz 0 0
Keanu Reeves has led several major blockbuster franchises, most notably playing Neo in The Matrix and the titular assassin in the John Wick series, but now he has lined up his next big action role, starring as the lead protagonist in the samurai epic Hidari. The movie marks his first role in a Japanese original production, although it might sound vaguely familiar, as the main character is described as "a man consumed by revenge," so there appears to be some overlap with past performances we've seen from the actor.
The high-profile announcement was made during the Annecy Animation Showcase at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where creator, writer, and director Masashi Kawamura and producer Noriko Matsumoto took to the stage to present their vision for the feature film. According to an official press release, Reeves will voice the lead character of Hidari Jingoro in the stop-motion movie, which is described as "a story of revenge and rebirth" set during Japan's Edo period. Hidari follows a legendary carpenter and craftsman who uses his woodworking skills to hunt down his betrayers and uncover a massive conspiracy, per the synopsis:
"Jingoro, a master craftsman of his time, is caught in a conspiracy during the reconstruction of Edo Castle, losing his mentor, the woman he loves, and even his right arm. Barely surviving, Jingoro is transformed into an agent of vengeance. Replacing his lost arm with a weaponized prosthetic, the tools he once used to carve wood are reborn as instruments of destruction. Accompanied by his partner, the 'Sleeping Cat,' he sets out on a journey of revenge—only to find himself drawn into an even greater conspiracy. Power struggles within the shogunate, advancing mechanical soldiers, and a transforming Edo Castle all threaten to consume him. As everything closes in, something within him begins to change."
Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin in John Wick: Chapter 4 Lionsgate
Hidari is a large-scale expansion of Kawamura's viral 2023 proof-of-concept short film, which told a story using intricately carved wooden puppets. The video racked up more than 4.9 million views on YouTube and received awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide, sparking widespread attention. Based on that success, the decision was made to turn the five-minute pilot into a feature-length adaptation. The director said that, when the project moved into development, Reeves was at the very top of his list of actors to lead it:
"One of the films we referenced while creating the Hidari pilot film and developing the screenplay was John Wick. And when I made my own personal dream list of actors, I hoped could someday be part of the feature adaptation, the very first name I wrote down was Keanu Reeves. I never imagined that he would actually join the project. Even now, it still feels surreal to me. But with such an incredible actor becoming part of Hidari, our entire team is more motivated than ever to create something truly special together with him."
Reeves has lent his voice to a number of animated works in the past, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Toy Story 4, but his newest undertaking is unlike anything he has done before. "I'm thrilled by the vision behind Hidari," he said in a statement. "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."
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A joint collaboration between Whatever Co., dwarf studios (known for Netflix's Rilakkuma series), and TECARAT, Hidari is a hugely ambitious project and the use of stop-motion animation will likely extend its production window by a considerable amount. It is an incredibly slow and meticulous craft – requiring hand-carved wooden puppets for every character, animated frame-by-frame – so it could take several years for the movie to be ready for audiences, but if the short film is anything to go by, it will be worth the wait.
Quiz 5 Questions Vengeance In Wood And Motion: A Keanu Reeves Hidari Quiz Your Top Score -- Attempts -- Start Quiz 0 0
