Allu Arjun and Lokesh Kanagaraj are officially collaborating for a new film, tentatively titled AA23. Mythri Movie Makers announced the project on January 14, 2026, with a video posted on social media, generating excitement among fans.

The collaboration marks Lokesh Kanagaraj's debut in Telugu cinema and Allu Arjun's second consecutive project with a Tamil filmmaker, following his film with Atlee. The film is expected to begin shooting later this year and will be released in multiple languages as a pan-Indian film.

The announcement video features a rap song by Anirudh Ravichander titled "I say 23". The video has an orange theme and shows wolves charging in a forest, facing a lion's roar. Allu Arjun is introduced with his moniker "Icon Star". The teaser has a Western vibe, opening with a sunrise over fields with animated animals and Allu Arjun walking past a fire. It closes with "A Lokesh Kanagaraj film" and the tagline "Strive for greatness".

Anirudh Ravichander will be the music composer for AA23. Lokesh Kanagaraj's recent project was "Coolie" starring Rajinikanth. Allu Arjun was last seen in "Pushpa 2: The Rule", which grossed ₹1871 crore worldwide.

AA23 is Allu Arjun's 23rd film. Lokesh Kanagaraj expressed his excitement on X, looking forward to the journey and aiming for a massive success. Allu Arjun also shared his excitement about working with Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander.

Some speculate that AA23 might be a superhero film, potentially based on the DC Comics novel "The Steel Claw". The film is rumored to be a gritty gang war drama, with fans wondering if Allu Arjun will be integrated into the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). Production is expected to begin in mid-2026, with a potential blockbuster release in the summer of 2027.