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Keanu Reeves joining stop motion indie anime Hidari has made the movie better, says creator
With a movie that can be described as stop motion John Wick, who else would you get to play the lead but Keanu Reeves?
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When Japanese stop-motion animation film Hidari announced that Keanu Reeves would be starring in the movie, it was both a surprise and a perfect fit. The pilot film, which has been seen by over 5 million people on YouTube, already has a visceral, violent feel that is perfect for John Wick-era Reeves. It turns out, he’s not just voicing the main character; Keanu Reeves is actively working with Hidari director Masashi Kawamura to make the film even better.
Kawamura says that Keanu Reeves was always at the top of his list of people to star in Hidari. “There was a lot of luck getting Keanu,” he said in a recent interview. “After we finished proof of concept with the five-minute film, I just started making this dream list of people I wanted to use as the voice cast and he was obvious at the top of my list.”
According to the director, Hidari has a similar feel to John Wick. Both stories follow a character who turns their grief into a drive for vengeance. John Wick is a man out for revenge after his dog is killed by Russian gangsters. Jingoro Hidari is a legendary craftsman who seeks vengeance against those who betrayed him and murdered those he loves the most simply to ensure that no one ever shares the secrets of Edo Castle’s reconstruction.
Obviously, Keanu Reeves knows a little something about making a cinematic tale of revenge and is turning that experience toward helping shape Hidari even at this early stage. “He’s super focused, Kawamura says. “I was just a fanboy but now I’m almost working as a partner with him. I’ve learned so much from him and continue to learn from him as we go.”
No release date for Hidari has been announced, but the production team suggests it won’t be ready until at least 2029, even with Keanu Reeves helping shape the film.
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