Universal Pictures is gearing up for a new adventure in the world of Lego, bringing action superstar Keanu Reeves on board to lead an exciting, untitled Lego movie.
This project marks a reunion with director Josh Cooley, known for his work on the Oscar-nominated Toy Story 4, where Reeves famously voiced the daring toy Duke Caboom.
In an interesting twist, the upcoming film will blend live-action with CGI, stepping away from the fully animated style we’ve seen in previous Lego movies.
It’s still unclear whether Reeves will appear on screen as a character or lend his voice, adding a layer of intrigue.
This announcement carries serious urgency. Universal acquired the rights to the Lego film in 2020 but has faced challenges getting a project off the ground.
High-profile talents like Jake Kasdan (Jumanji), Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), and Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) have all been linked to various Lego projects in the past, yet nothing has progressed beyond pre-production.
The stakes are high: Universal needs to greenlight and start production on a Lego film within the next six months.
If they don’t start filming before this fast-approaching deadline, the rights will lapse, returning the Lego property to the open Hollywood market.
The story of Lego in cinema has had its ups and downs. During the Warner Bros. era from 2014 to 2019, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller created the iconic The Lego Movie, which became a cultural sensation and grossed over $1 billion.
While The Lego Batman Movie kept that momentum going in 2017, subsequent films like The Lego Ninjago Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part didn’t perform as well, leading Warner Bros. to let the film rights expire.
Now, in the Universal era (2020–present), while traditional Lego films have hit a roadblock, the studio did manage to produce the innovative biopic Piece by Piece, telling Pharrell Williams’ life story entirely through Lego animation, a creative success.
What’s next? Details about the plot, screenwriters, and the cast for the Cooley-Reeves collaboration have been wrapped up tight.
However, with that six-month deadline looming, it’s clear Universal will be pushing this project forward at full speed.
With Reeves’ star power from the John Wick and Matrix franchises and Cooley’s ability to blend heartfelt storytelling with humour, Universal is banking on this dynamic duo to finally shake things up and breathe new life into their Lego endeavours.