The John Wick star is set to bring a legendary Japanese carpenter to life in a unique action revenge story.
Keanu Reeves has officially signed on to voice the main character in Hidari, a new Japanese stop-motion action movie. Director Masashi Kawamura is leading the project, which was announced at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2026.
The movie expands Kawamura’s 2023 short film of the same name, which gained close to five million views on YouTube. Reeves will voice Jingoro Hidari, a master carpenter from Japan’s Edo period whose life falls apart after a major betrayal.
A Violent Story of Loss and Payback
The story follows a skilled carpenter who loses nearly everything during the reconstruction of Edo Castle. A betrayal takes away his father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm. Instead of giving up, he uses his building skills to create a mechanical prosthetic arm and sets out on a path of revenge.
The official synopsis describes how Jingoro turns his grief into an unyielding drive for justice. He uses a series of deadly mechanical prosthetic arms and is joined by a wooden companion called the Sleeping Cat.
“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari,” Reeves 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.”
Why This Role Fits Keanu Reeves
The actor is no stranger to action or voice work. He played Duke Caboom in Pixar’s Toy Story 4 and voiced Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. He also produces and narrates projects under his BRZRKR comic-book label with Netflix.
Director Kawamura shared his excitement about the partnership.
“I’m super excited to be collaborating with Keanu,” Kawamura said. “When someone with his experience and creative vision watches your proof of concept and says, ‘I want to be part of this,’ it’s an incredible feeling. He’s not just lending his voice to Hidari — he’s helping us shape and expand this world, and I can’t wait to see where we take it together.”
The director is known for his work spanning commercials, music videos, and large-scale installations. His projects have won a Cristal at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and earned an International Emmy Award nomination.
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Production Team and Release Plans
Noriko Matsumoto is producing the film under dwarf studios, alongside Whatever and TECARAT production. The studio gained attention for its Rilakkuma series on Netflix, and Matsumoto’s short film Bottle George was shortlisted at the 2025 Oscars. Tomonobu Ibe from Questry Co. is handling financing for the movie.
A release date for Hidari has not been announced yet. The movie was presented at the Annecy Animation Showcase during the Cannes Film Festival.
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