Blockheads, it’s time to celebrate. Deadline is reporting that Universal and the LEGO Group have greenlit not one, not two, but three new Lego movies, with directors Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish.
According to Deadline, “all three movies’ plots are under wraps,” but their scripts are well underway and unique to each directors’ vision. Kasdan will be directing his Lego feature off a script from Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul, “based on an original idea and previous draft by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows.” Jenkins’ movie is “from a script she wrote with former DC Entertainment President Geoff Johns.” Meanwhile, Cornish’s toy bricks will come to us via a rewrite of a previous draft from Heather Anne Campbell, which was based on a treatment written by Simon Rich.
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Which Hollywood franchise would work well as a Lego movie?
While 2017’s The Lego Batman movie is the most memorable entry to come out of the building toy cinematic universe (that is what it is at the end of the day), The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part was the last film to be released in the franchise two years later in February 2019. For Warner Brothers, this was a box office disappointment and any future plans were shelved immediately and indefinitely. Believe it or not, just last year Dan Lin – the producer behind all the Lego films – said that there is actually another one in the works, but they need to switch up the art form. With the Nee Brothers attached to direct (Band of Robbers, The Lost City), something unique is definitely in store. But let’s be honest here – the best way to incorporate Lego is by featuring another property in that small, adorable brick size. Batman was first. Who do you want to see get the Lego treatment next? I am all for a comedic, fourth wall breaking version of Neo and the Matrix, haha.
“Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians from The Lego Group are producing all three projects,” Deadline reported, with “Universal’s EVP of Production Development Matt Reilly and Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garell” set to oversee the projects for the studio. Since Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s initial film, 2014’s The Lego Movie, the toy company’s cinematic footprint has only continued to expand, with The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Lego Batman, and The Lego Ninjago Movie.
The LEGO Movie Universe Expands
It’s a further big step into expanding the Lego movie universe, following the successful release of 4 other Lego movie installments, as well as Piece By Piece, a documentary from Morgan Neville, which utilized Lego characters and animation to tell the story of prolific musician and producer, Pharrell Williams. However, this isn’t the first time Lego has expanded its cinematic universe beyond the original film: Wilfert herself has previously explained why other intended Lego movies never got off the ground. But perhaps this time will be different.
All three directors will no doubt bring their own unique sensibilities to the blockbuster (pun intended) projects-to-be. Jake Kasdan is perhaps most well known for Walk Hard : The Dewey Cox Story, but has made a further name for himself with beloved installments in the Jumanji universe, as well as the upcoming Red One. Patty Jenkins made a name for herself directing the Oscar-winning Monster, further solidifying her place in Hollywood with her Wonder Woman feature films starring Gal Gadot. She was also attached to the long-gestatingStar Wars project, Rogue Squadron. Joe Cornish has written and directed several beloved films, including Attack the Block and its forthcoming sequel. He was also the writer of the first Ant-Man movie.
Jenkins, Cornish, and Kasdan all have extensive experience in the big-budget, action blockbuster space, making them the ideal candidates for helming films as large and beloved as the Lego films are.
