The LEGO movie universe may be getting its most unexpected casting yet. Keanu Reeves is reportedly in negotiations to star in a new LEGO film at Universal Pictures, directed by Josh Cooley, the filmmaker behind Toy Story 4. The project is described as a hybrid of animation and live action, though Universal has not officially commented.
A reunion six years in the making
This would not be the first time Reeves and Cooley have worked together. Reeves voiced Duke Caboom, Canada's greatest stuntman, in Cooley's Toy Story 4. The pairing clearly worked, because Reeves recently reprised the role in Toy Story 5, which opened to a massive $312 million global box office haul. That number makes it the biggest opening weekend in franchise history (without inflation adjustments) and the biggest opening weekend of 2026 so far.
Here's the thing: that kind of box office momentum puts both names in a very strong position. A Reeves-Cooley LEGO project is not a random pairing, it is a studio betting on a proven creative relationship at the peak of its commercial heat.
Universal's long road to the LEGO big screen
Universal acquired the rights to develop, produce, and distribute theatrical LEGO films all the way back in 2020, covering both existing intellectual property and original ideas. Six years later, the studio has yet to release a single film from that deal.
A late 2024 report pointed to three separate LEGO projects in development at Universal, with directors Patty Jenkins, Jake Kasdan, and Joe Cornish each attached to one. None of those have reached screens yet either. The Reeves and Cooley project would join that pipeline, though it is unclear whether it overlaps with any of those previously announced films or represents a fourth project entirely.
What most players miss in stories like this is the sheer distance between "in talks" and "in theaters." Negotiations can collapse, projects can stall, and development timelines in Hollywood rarely run on schedule. The 2020 rights deal is proof enough of that.
Where LEGO movies have lived before
The LEGO film franchise built its reputation at Warner Bros., which produced and distributed the two original LEGO Movies, The LEGO Batman Movie, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie. All four remain part of the WB library. Universal's eventual output will sit entirely separate from that catalog, building a new chapter for the brand on the big screen.
For fans of LEGO content in gaming, the brand has been anything but quiet while Hollywood figures out its next move. LEGO Fortnite has been running major crossover events, and if you want to stay current on those, the LEGO Fortnite Ninjago: Embers of Chaos guide covers every fire ability, monster, and reward in the latest update.
What a hybrid format could mean
The animation-plus-live-action approach is worth paying attention to. The original LEGO Movie used a fully animated style that deliberately mimicked stop-motion, and it became one of the most visually distinctive animated films of its decade. A hybrid format suggests Universal and Cooley are not trying to replicate that formula directly, but instead find a new visual identity for their version of the franchise.
Cooley's background makes him a credible choice for that kind of tonal balance. Toy Story 4 handled physical and emotional weight alongside broad comedy, which is exactly the kind of range a LEGO film needs to land with both kids and adults.
The key here is whether Universal can actually move one of its LEGO projects from development into production before the window of momentum closes. The franchise has goodwill to spare, Reeves is coming off a genuine cultural moment with Toy Story 5, and Cooley has proven he can direct crowd-pleasing films with real craft. The pieces are there.
For more LEGO gaming content while the film side catches up, check out the full LEGO Fortnite: Odyssey Ultimate Ninjago Event guide for everything you need to unlock elemental abilities and explore Ninjago Island.
