Keanu Reeves in Talks to Lead Universal's New Live-Action Lego Movie

A Brick-Built Reunion

Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star in a new Lego movie at Universal Pictures, according to Deadline. The project would reunite Reeves with Josh Cooley, the filmmaker who directed him in the Duke Caboom storyline of Pixar's "Toy Story 4." Cooley is set to direct the new film, which Deadline describes as a hybrid blending live-action with animation.

The plot is being kept tightly under wraps, and it has not been confirmed whether Reeves would appear on screen, lend his voice, or both. What is clear, per the report, is that Universal built the package specifically around landing the actor, betting that his involvement could finally move one of its long-gestating Lego ideas forward.

Why Now

The timing is driven as much by business pressure as by creative ambition. Deadline reports that Universal has been trying to develop Lego film projects since acquiring the rights in 2020 but has struggled to push anything into production. According to the outlet, the studio faced a real deadline: if it could not get a movie close to pre-production within roughly six months, there was a strong chance the Lego rights could lapse.

That context helps explain the urgency around Reeves. Rights to a property as valuable as Lego carry use-it-or-lose-it stakes, and a star of his profile can give a stalled project the momentum it needs to clear internal hurdles. The outlet frames his interest as the catalyst that changed the math, turning a long-dormant effort into an active one. Producing for The Lego Group are Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians, per Deadline.

The Cooley Connection

Key points from the report:

• The film is a live-action and animation hybrid, with the title not yet revealed.
• Josh Cooley, who won acclaim for "Toy Story 4," is attached to direct.
• Reeves and Cooley previously collaborated on the breakout Duke Caboom character.
• Universal developed the project around Reeves' potential involvement.

The reunion is a natural one. Duke Caboom, the daredevil Canadian stunt toy Reeves voiced in "Toy Story 4," became a fan favorite and one of that film's most quotable additions, proving the actor and director could conjure real charm together. Pairing them again on another toy-centric project leans directly into that chemistry.

A Busy Family-Film Stretch

The move continues an active period for Reeves on the family-film front. It comes as his daredevil toy Duke Caboom returns to theaters in a new "Toy Story" installment, keeping the character — and Reeves' association with all-ages fare — fresh in audiences' minds. For an actor best known for the action-driven "John Wick" and "Matrix" franchises, a successful Lego venture could open another franchise foothold well outside that catalog.

The Lego brand, for its part, has a proven big-screen track record built on irreverent humor and inventive visuals, the kind of sensibility that rewards a distinctive lead voice. Reeves' deadpan warmth would fit comfortably within that world.

A Deal Still in Motion

Deadline cautions that the deal remains in the negotiation stage, so the casting is not yet locked and details could shift. Still, the report frames the pairing as a logical next step for two collaborators looking to recapture the charm that made their last toy-centric outing a fan favorite. If the talks close, Universal would secure both a marquee name and a clear creative direction for a property it has struggled for years to crack. All details here are attributed to Deadline's reporting.