Keanu Reeves to star in Japanese stop-motion samurai film Hidari

Actor Keanu Reeves has joined the cast of Hidari, an ambitious Japanese stop-motion animation project aimed at reinventing the samurai action genre. Director Kawamura Masashi revealed at the Tokyo International Film Festival that Reeves decided to participate after viewing the film’s pilot episode.

Kawamura, who is also the writer and creator, noted that the character design was inspired by a combination of Toshiro Mifune and Keanu Reeves, aged to appear older. The production is currently seeking international distribution agreements and further funding.

The project has also garnered interest from SS Rajamouli, the director of the international hit RRR, who reportedly expressed significant interest in the film’s technical craftsmanship during a meeting at the Annecy festival. A proof-of-concept short for the film previously garnered millions of views on YouTube.