The working relationship Keanu Reeves and director Josh Cooley forged on the set of the 2019 Pixar fourquel Toy Story 4 may be about to produce something entirely unexpected: a brand-new Lego movie. According to a report from Variety, Reeves is currently circling the lead role in the project, with Cooley in line to direct.
A Partnership Rooted in Toy Story 4
Cooley directed Toy Story 4, the film that gave audiences Ducky and Bunny, Forky, a more self-determined Bo Peep, and Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, introduced to the world as nothing less than Canada's Greatest Stuntman. Cooley's handling of that character was widely praised, and the rapport he built with Reeves during production clearly left a lasting impression on both of them. Since then, Cooley has gone on to direct Transformers One, the animated origin story that landed well with fans and further established him as one of the most capable helmers working in animated features today.
A Live-Action and CG Hybrid, But Details Are Scarce
The project is understood to be a live-action and CG hybrid, following the creative approach of the original The Lego Movie rather than the fully animated style of 2017's The Lego Batman Movie. Beyond that broad format detail, however, almost everything else about the film remains under wraps. No writer has been announced, no supporting cast has been confirmed, and the plot itself is entirely unknown. Even a fundamental question like whether Reeves will appear on screen in person or be depicted as a Lego minifigure has not been settled.
Universal's Second Lego Venture
If greenlit, this film would represent Universal's second foray into Lego-branded filmmaking. The studio previously backed Piece By Piece, an animated biopic told through the Lego medium chronicling the life of musician Pharrell Williams. The proposed Reeves and Cooley project would take the studio's Lego output in a very different creative direction.
A Six-Month Rights Window Driving Urgency
One factor adding momentum to Universal's interest in this project is a hard deadline. As TrendKia understands it, the studio has approximately six months to formally commission a new Lego movie before its licensing rights to the iconic toyline expire. That looming cutoff appears to be at least part of the reason Universal is pursuing this particular project with such focus and intent right now.
The Excitement of What This Could Become
Even in its current unformed state, the prospect of Keanu Reeves leading a Lego film generates considerable excitement. One especially appealing side effect of such a film would be the real possibility of an official Keanu Reeves Lego minifigure entering the world as a tangible, purchasable object. Combine that with a director whose last two films have been received as genuine crowd-pleasers, and this project carries real promise. TrendKia will be watching closely and will bring you updates as they emerge.
