This weekend, Warner Bros. will release the first of their highly-anticipatedLEGO Movie spin-offs,The LEGO Batman Movie, which brings backWill Arnettas the voice of Batman. Later this year, fans will be introduced to another corner of the LEGO universe withThe LEGO Ninjago Movie, slated for release on September 22. While we wait for the first trailer’s release, Warner Bros. has shared new images, featuringJackie Chanas Master Wu,Justin Therouxas the villainous Lord Garmadon,Dave Francoas Garmadon’s estranged son Lloyd, and the ninjas in his “super squad,” Kai (Michael Peña), Zane (Zach Woods), Cole (Fred Armisen), Jay (Kumail Nanjiani) and Nya (Abbi Jacobson).
USA Todaydebuted these images, and also spoke withDave FrancoandJustin Therouxabout their characters.Justin Therouxis described as the “black-helmeted, four-armed supervillain” who tries to rule over Ninjago City. Standing in his way is a team of teenage ninjas, lead by Lloyd. The movie is said to be a, “mix of the martial-arts genre and Japanese kaiju movies with giant monsters and robots,” but the father-son relationship between Garmadon and Lloyd lies at the heart of this movie. Here’s whatJustin Therouxhad to say in a statement.
“It’s about a son having to live with this father who’s a threat to Lego-manity (but) more about the son’s journey of forgiving him and learning to accept him for who he is.”
Inspired by the wildly popular LEGO line of toys,Ninjagois the story of six young ninja tasked with defending their island home, calledNinjago. By night, they’re gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they’re ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.Dave Francorevealed that his character Lloyd suddenly boasts a lot more confidence when he becomes the Green Ninja in this super team.
“He has much more confidence and wants to do everything he can to protect his home. They may be really cool as ninjas and theNinjago worldadores them, but at school they’re the geeks and nerds who are ignored.”
Fans got their first look atJackie Chan’sMaster WuinThe Master: A Lego Ninjago Short, which was attached to prints ofStorksback in September. Master Wu not only serves as the teacher of the Ninjago super team, but he is also Lord Garmadon’s brother. This new report also reveals thatJackie Chan’s own celebrated stunt team filmed the martial arts sequences in live action, which the filmmakers animated over for the film. When asked about Lloy’s relationship with Master Wu,Dave Francohad this to say, likening their relationship to Daniel and Mr. Miyagi fromThe Karate Kid.
“It sometimes takes Lloyd a little while to grasp the lessons that Master Wu is trying to instill within him.”
This new report also reveals that Garmadon, who is also described as an “operatic sociopath,” left both Lloyd and his mother Koko, played byOlivia Munn, when Lloyd was just a baby.Justin Therouxhas a theory about what made him so evil, while praising the “insane” world ofNinjago, which will include his character riding a massive mechanical shark with legs, and frequently asking Lloyd about his mother, and if she’s seeing anyone romantically. Here’s what the actor had to say below.
“I think he’s suffered a series of slights and cuts over the course of his life when people question his narcissism, so it’s made him more and more evil as a result. Ninjago is one of the most insane places in the universe. So much of it makes no sense. It feels like it came out of the mind of a kid rather than out of the minds of some people sitting in a writers' room.”
The LEGO Ninjago Moviemarks the feature film directorial debut ofCharlie Bean(Tron: Uprising). It is being produced byDan Lin,Phil Lord,Christopher MillerandRoy Lee, who previously collaborated on the worldwide box-office phenomenonThe LEGO Movie, along withMaryann Garger(Flushed Away).Chris McKay,Seth Grahame-Smith,Jill Wilfert, andKeith Maloneare serving as executive producers. The screenplay is byHilary Winston&Bob Logan&Paul Fisher, story byKevin Hageman&Dan HagemanandHilary Winston&Bob Logan&Paul Fisher, based on LEGO Construction Toys.The LEGO Ninjago Moviewill hit theaters on September 22, going up against Lionsgate’sGranite MountainstarringJosh BrolinandMiles Teller. Take a look at these new photos fromThe LEGO Ninjago Moviebelow.
