Keanu Reeves Cast as Lead Voice Actor for Stop-Motion Samurai Film "HIDARI"

Whatever Co. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Yosuke Tominaga, hereinafter "Whatever"), which is currently producing the stop-motion samurai film "HIDARI" alongside dwarf studios and TECARAT, announced at the 79th Cannes Film Festival's "Annecy Animation Showcase" that Keanu Reeves has been selected as the lead voice actor for the film. The announcement was made during a presentation geared toward a feature film adaptation, delivered by Masashi Kawamura, the film's original creator, writer, and director, along with producer Noriko Matsumoto.

The Annecy Animation Showcase is a specialized animation program held within the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival. Five carefully selected projects from around the world are given the opportunity to be presented to international distributors, investors, and film festival officials.

*Press release regarding the selection for the Cannes Film Festival's "Annecy Animation Showcase":
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000053.000040758.html

About the Lead Voice Actor

Voicing the protagonist Jingoro in "HIDARI" will be Keanu Reeves, marking his first participation in an original work originating from Japan. Known for a wide array of works such as "Speed," "The Matrix," and "John Wick," Reeves has garnered high international acclaim for his acting ability to captivate audiences with a quiet presence. He has also been active as a voice actor in animation projects like "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and "Toy Story 4." In this film, he will use his voice to express the obsession, conflict, and sorrow of Jingoro, a man who has lost everything and lives for revenge.

Keanu Reeves

An actor who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment world through a diverse range of roles. He is widely known for starring in "The Matrix" and "John Wick" series. In 2021, he debuted as a comic book writer with the 16-issue graphic novel series "BRZRKR," published by BOOM! Studios, which set a record for the highest debut sales of an original comic in over 25 years. He returned to the screen in 2023 with "John Wick: Chapter 4," setting a franchise record for box office revenue. Other recent works include "Outcome," "Good Fortune," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "The Matrix Resurrections," "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum," "Always Be My Maybe," "Toy Story 4," and the video game "Cyberpunk 2077." He is currently filming Tim Miller's "Shiver" and has wrapped filming on Ruben Östlund's "The Entertainment System Is Down." On Broadway, he made his stage debut as Estragon in Jamie Lloyd's production of "Waiting for Godot," successfully completing a 16-week run from September 2025 to January 2026 alongside co-star Alex Winter. This summer, he is also resuming activities with his band "Dogstar," with the release of their new album "All In Now" and an international tour lined up. In 2023, he co-authored the novel "The Book of Elsewhere" with China Miéville, based on his best-selling comic "BRZRKR," which became a New York Times Best Seller. Raised in Toronto, Canada, he moved to Los Angeles after working in local theater and television. He is represented by WME.

Comment from Keanu Reeves (Voice of Jingoro)

"When I first watched the pilot film for 'HIDARI', I was truly amazed. The visuals the team created were fantastic, and after reading the script, I was convinced that this would be a one-of-a-kind movie. As an audience member, I definitely want to see this film, and I also wanted to be a part of it. I believe 'HIDARI' has a special power that will move the hearts of audiences around the world."

Comment from Masashi Kawamura (Director)

"When we were making the pilot film and writing the script for HIDARI, one of the movies we referenced was 'John Wick,' and when we made a selfish dream list of who we'd want to cast for the feature film adaptation, the very first name we wrote down was Keanu Reeves. I never in my wildest dreams thought he would actually participate. Even now, my heart is full of disbelief. But with such a renowned actor joining us, our whole team is determined to borrow his strength and make sure we create a truly entertaining piece of work."

Comment from Noriko Matsumoto (Producer)

"Since the completion of the pilot version, many people have watched it, and through the power of those visuals, new"