Keanu Reeves Stages a Samurai Comeback 13 Years After 47 Ronin

Keanu Reeves is taking another swing at samurai cinema – but this time, he won’t be swinging a real sword. He’s joining Hidari, a stop-motion animated film, and yes, it’s a proper samurai story, though not quite what you’d expect given his last attempt in the genre was the spectacularly disappointing 47 Ronin over a decade ago.

Keanu Goes Stop-Motion (And Japanese Legend)

A bit of a left turn for Reeves, this. Instead of live-action, he’s lending his instantly recognisable voice to a stop-motion outing from director Masashi Kawamura. If that name doesn’t ring any bells: he’s the chap behind The Diary of Ochibi and the viral proof-of-concept short version of Hidari, which by the way, has racked up over 5 million views on YouTube since it dropped in 2023.

The film is based on the legendary craftsman Jingoro Hidari, who, depending on which bits of folklore you believe, was a real artisan-cum-adventurer during Japan’s Edo period. In this version, Keanu voices Jingoro after a massive betrayal that sees him lose absolutely everything, all thanks to people desperate to hide some dodgy secrets about the rebuilding of Edo Castle. Instead of a downward spiral, he channels it all into a proper old-school revenge mission — joined by a very loyal sidekick called the 'Sleeping Cat'. Yes, that’s an animal companion, because apparently even master carpenters need one.

The Team (and Keanu’s Thoughts)

• Keanu Reeves: Voicing the lead, Jingoro Hidari – back in samurai robes, minus the body count (presumably).
• Masashi Kawamura: Directing, having already knocked out a popular short version that has fans excited.
• Noriko Matsumoto: Producing, though details on the rest of the cast or crew are still under wraps.

No release date yet, so don’t hold your breath. But it already looks like one to watch, especially if you like your revenge tales artfully animated and a bit eccentric.

Read this bit in your Keanu voice if you want the full effect. Here’s what he had to say about signing up:

‘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.’

The enthusiasm runs both ways. Director Kawamura practically beamed: ‘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.’

What Else Has Keanu Been Up To?

So if you’re losing track: aside from looming as an animated samurai, Keanu’s been popping up all over the place. He just played Gabriel (no, really) in the comedy Good Fortune (out 2025), and he’s reprising his gun-fu ways in the John Wick spin-off Ballerina with Ana de Armas, also out next year.

So, Hidari: Keanu. Stop-motion. Japanese revenge epic with a cat. Genuinely no idea how this will land, but you can’t deny it’s intriguing – not least because, if nothing else, it’s got to be better than 47 Ronin.