Though the film doesn’t hit cinemas until this weekend, it would appear that** The Lego Movie** lives up to its cheery, madcap theme tune and that everything is indeed awesome, including critical raves and the likelihood that it’ll be a success at the box office. So Warner Bros. is doing what any big studio might in this situation: preparing for a potential sequel.
The Lego Movie finds Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) a distinctly ordinary Minifig laboring away along with thousands of others, who discovers that he might just be the key to thwarting tyrannical overlord-turned corporate titan President Business’ (Will Ferrell) big plan to shape the world the way he wants it.
Given how long it took to make the first film (under construction since 2011), getting an early start on a follow-up makes sense. Screenwriter Jared Stern, whose credits worryingly include The Internship and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, is one of a team now coming up with new ways to use the Lego characters, along with Girl Most Likely writer Michelle Morgan.
The development of the new film will also be overseen by Warners’ animation “Brain Trust”, which includes Lego co-writer-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Crazy, Stupid Love’s John Requa and Glenn Ficarra and The Muppets’ Nicholas Stoller.
There’s no word yet on whether Lord, Miller and animation overseer Chris McKay will be back for this one, but it could go either way. The co-writer/directors made the first Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs but not the sequel, yet returned for 21 Jump Street follow-up 22 Jump Street (due out June 6).
First, however, we’ll have to see how** The Lego Movie **actually performs once it arrives in the US on Friday and over here on February 14.