Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star in an untitled live-action/CG hybrid Lego film at Universal, according to Deadline. The project is directed by Josh Cooley, who previously helmed Toy Story 4, a film that grossed over $1 billion globally and took the Best Animated Feature Oscar.
The two have an existing working relationship. Reeves voiced Duke Caboom, a Canadian stuntman action figure, in Toy Story 4, and reprised the character in Toy Story 5, which opened June 19. According to Deadline, Universal developed this project specifically to attract an A-list lead before bringing Cooley in to pitch his vision, which ultimately secured Reeves' commitment. Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians of The Lego Group will produce.
The deal carries urgency. Universal acquired Lego film rights in 2020 and, according to both Deadline and Variety, faces a contractual window of roughly six months to greenlight a project before the rights lapse. Previous development attempts at Universal by directors Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish each failed to advance. The studio's only Lego release to date, the Pharrell Williams documentary Piece by Piece, earned $10 million against its $16 million budget.
The new film marks a departure from the franchise's animated past. Warner Bros. built a Lego film brand beginning with the 2014 original, which launched a billion-dollar franchise, before the rights moved to Universal. No plot details, screenwriter, or additional cast have been confirmed. Universal declined to comment.
