Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to headline a new live-action/CG hybrid Lego film at Universal Pictures, directed by Josh Cooley — the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Toy Story 4 — marking a reunion between the two men who brought the stuntman toy Duke Caboom to life in 2019.
The project has been years in the making. Universal acquired the Lego film rights in 2020 and has cycled through multiple writers and directors without producing a film. With the six-year rights window approaching its limit, the studio pivoted to a star-first strategy, building the concept around Reeves himself. After weeks of back-and-forth, it was Cooley’s personal pitch that cleared the final hurdle and secured Reeves’ commitment. Whether Reeves will appear on screen or voice a character remains unconfirmed, though given the scale of his involvement in shaping the project, a voice-only role seems unlikely.
The timing amplifies the announcement. Reeves just reprised Duke Caboom in Toy Story 5, which opened June 19 to a record-setting $160 million domestic debut, putting both men firmly back in the public eye at once. Cooley, whose résumé spans The Incredibles, Up, and Ratatouille before his directorial debut, also directed 2024’s Transformers One — a critical success at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes that demonstrated his range beyond Pixar. Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians will produce through The Lego Group.
The franchise’s mixed theatrical track record looms over the announcement. The original 2014 Lego Movie grossed over a billion dollars globally and spawned a franchise, but The Lego Ninjago Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part underperformed badly enough that Warner Bros. let the rights expire. Universal’s first Lego production, the Pharrell Williams animated biography Piece by Piece, earned warm reviews but grossed just $10 million against a $16 million budget. A rights lapse within the next six months remained a genuine possibility before Reeves entered talks.
Plot details are under wraps, though the film is confirmed as a live-action and animation hybrid. Universal declined to comment.
