John Wick star Keanu Reeves appeared via a video message at the Annecy Animation Showcase in Cannes on Thursday to give insight into his voice role in the stop-motion animated feature Hidari.
Reeves has previously voiced the stunt toy cyclist Duke Kaboom in the computer-animated features Toy Story 4 and Toy Story 5, as well as the CG-animated character Shadow the Hedgehog in the live-action and computer-animated hybrid Sonic the Hedgehog 3. However, Reeves hasn’t played a voice role in a stop-motion animated film until Hidari, which was highlighted Thursday at Annecy.
“I think that the stop-motion and what they’ve done, their hope and ambition is very cinematic,” Reeves said in the video message (per Variety). “It can be both big scale and very intimate, and with the script they have developed, I think it’s extraordinary. I want to see that movie and I want to be in that movie.
“I’m very excited to move forward and have the opportunity to play the role, to be a part of it,” Reeves added. “It will be something very special to bring to the world.”
Reeves stars as the voice of the title character in Hidari, which is being produced by Whatever Co. in Tokyo.
Hidari, which largely will feature wooden puppetry, began as a proof-of-concept film that was posted on YouTube three years ago. Since then, the short film, which runs five minutes and 32 seconds, has amassed more than 5.1 million views. The film is embedded below.
The pilot film can be viewed below.
‘Hidari’ Is Set In Feudal Japan
Written and directed by Masashi Kawamura, Hidari, per the film’s official website, chronicles the story of legendary master sculptor Jingoro Hidari, an enigmatic figure whose true existence remains uncertain to this day.
The short film spawned the development of the Hidari feature, which got a big boost when the production announced the casting of Keanu Reeves in May.
In the press release about his casting, Reeves said, “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.”
Teasing the film at Annecy, Kawamura said (via Variety), “Imagine John Wick set in feudal Japan and performed by wooden puppets on steroids.”
The timeline for the completion and release of the feature film version of Hidari is yet to be announced.