In CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi title Cyberpunk 2077, Keanu Reeves‘ character Johnny Silverhand says, “Wake the f**k up, Samurai! We have a city to burn.” The tables will soon turn on the John Wick star, as he’s set to voice the title role in Hidari, the stop-motion samurai feature from Japanese filmmaker Masashi Kawamura.
Expanded from his viral proof-of-concept short film, which now stands at nearly five million views on YouTube since its release in 2023, it takes inspiration from the legend of Jingoro Hidari, the eminent master carpenter from Japan’s Edo period, who loses his father figure, his fiancée and his right arm to a betrayal tied to the secret reconstruction of Edo Castle. In the wake of this devastation, Jingoro channels his grief into vengeance with his mechanical prosthetic arms and, alongside his loyal companion, the “Sleeping Cat,” fights off his enemies while on a journey of self-discovery.
“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari,” said Reeves 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.”
The actor is no stranger to voice work, with credits as Duke Caboom in 2019’s Toy Story 4 and Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as a starring role in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of his own BRZRKR comic book series.
“I’m super excited to be collaborating with Keanu. 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,” added Kawamura, who has written the screenplay.
Hidari currently has no release date and is set to be produced by animation house Dwarf Studios head Noriko Matsumoto, who landed a shortlist for Bottle George at the 2025 Oscars. Meanwhile, Kawamura’s portfolio includes commercials, music videos, and television shows, alongside creating dancing clones for Lady Gaga and designing the largest pavilion at last year’s Osaka World Expo.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
Natalie
