Keanu Reeves to Reteam with Toy Story 4 Director Josh Cooley for Universal's Live-Action LEGO Movie
After a long hiatus, the LEGO cinematic universe looks ready to make a major comeback—and this time, it's jumping into the real world with a hybrid live-action/animation format.
Keanu Reeves is currently in negotiations to star in a new live-action LEGO film directed by Josh Cooley.
According to an exclusive report from Deadline, Keanu Reeves (the John Wick franchise) is in active talks with Universal Pictures to star in a new live-action LEGO film directed by Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4). Sources indicate the project will blend live-action performances with animation. Since Universal Pictures acquired the theatrical film rights to the LEGO brand in 2020, their output has been limited to just one related feature, the Pharrell Williams biopic Piece by Piece. The report notes that after hearing pitches from numerous directors and screenwriters, the studio decided to build a project entirely tailored around Reeves. Universal then brought in director Josh Cooley, whose specific creative pitch successfully won over the actor and secured his commitment to lead the project.
Cooley spent the early part of his career at Pixar, where he co-wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-winning Inside Out. In 2019, he directed Toy Story 4, which coincidentally featured Keanu Reeves voicing the fan-favorite stuntman character, Duke Caboom. Cooley also directed the animated feature Transformers One. If this LEGO project officially moves forward, it will mark his live-action directorial debut.
The film rights to the LEGO franchise were originally held by Warner Bros. Pictures, who launched the franchise in 2014 with the massive critical and commercial hit The Lego Movie, which grossed over $400 million worldwide and won a BAFTA for Best Animated Film. While the studio followed up with spin-offs and sequels—The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Ninjago Movie, and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part—subsequent entries suffered from diminishing box office returns, with Ninjago and The Lego Movie 2 failing to cross the $200 million mark. Consequently, the LEGO Group partnered with Universal Pictures in 2020, though development has been slow. Deadline notes that Universal's window of ownership for the LEGO film rights is rapidly drawing to a close. If pre-production does not officially begin within the next six months, the studio risks losing the rights entirely, making Keanu Reeves' involvement critical to getting the film greenlit.
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Source: Deadline