Unfortunately,The LEGO Moviefranchise beganrunning into some issuesafter its initial success. BothThe LEGO Ninjago MovieandThe LEGO Movie 2: The Second Partreceived more mixed reviews, and underperformed financially. Neither film was necessarily bad, but they didn’t possess the same razor-sharp sense of humor thatThe LEGO MovieandThe LEGO Batman Moviehad. While there was anticipation forThe LEGO Batman 2, the franchise entered anew deal with Universal Picturesin 2020, which effectively canceled the possibility of any new projects with the DC characters. Despite some vaguesuggestions about a third film, time continues to pass without any major announcements. It’s about time that one of most inventive animated franchises makes a strong return.
It’s a Satire That Works for Audiences of All Ages
The idea of a21 Jump Streetreboot seemed cynical, but Lord and Miller surprisingly used the concept to address all the concerns that audiences of skeptics had; the film lampooned the fact that they were using an older program because they lacked imagination, and acknowledged how ridiculous the concept itself was. Surprisingly, this same level of satire was also present inThe LEGO Movie. The film starts off with the incredible “Everything Is Awesome” musical number, and then reminds the viewer that this is the sort of song that will quickly get oversaturated and annoying. Emmet’s selection to be “The Special” is hilarious, as every other character remarks about how the most unqualified characters are usually the leads.
This satire is what makesThe LEGO Moviefranchise work for both adults and children. While kids might not pick up on all the in-jokes, references to other media, and commentary about the entertainment industry, they can get swept up in the fun adventure and laugh at the non-stop jokes. The films are so packed with background details that they’re worth revisiting simply to catch up on anything that wasn’t immediately visible after an initial viewing. This level of craftsmanship is what makes the franchise sustainable for future installments, even if they take on new stories or introduce new characters. The franchise has maintained a similar style in all four films;The LEGO Batman Moviegave kids a thrilling new adventure in the LEGO DC Universe, but it managed to sneak in jokes about nearly every different incarnation of The Dark Knight.
Related:10 Celebrity Cameos You May Have Missed in the First LEGO Movie
The Franchise Could Have New Life at Universal
The LEGO Moviefranchise is now owned by Universal Studios, andDan Lin has suggestedthat, in order for the series to move forward, “we have to switch it up and take to a different art form that’s still true to LEGO." Certain elements within the world established in the previous films may have to be left out, as obviously Warner Brothers’ ownership of DC would eliminate the possibility of seeing a sequel toThe LEGO Batman Movie. However, considering all the different brands, characters, environments, and themes that LEGO has introduced sets for throughout its lengthy history, coming up with a new spin on the story should not be too challenging.
The deal is also encouraging because Universal Studios has continued to find success in theatrically distributing animated films. While studios like Pixar sent their streaming releases directly to streaming throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal has found success with theirTrolls, Despicable Me, Shrek,andKung Fu Pandafranchises at the box office. The studio also has reinvented their franchises in interesting ways, as the sequelsKung Fu Panda 2andPuss in Boots: The Last Wishwere vastly superior to their predecessors.
Even if this is the end of the LEGO DC Universe, there are plenty of other franchises that Universal Studios owns the rights to that would be fun to see in a crossover. Considering that LEGO produced aLEGO Jurassic Worldvideo game, seeing a feature length LEGO story set in theJurassic Parkfranchise might be a fun way to reinvent a series that has been creatively lacking. Other franchises likeThe Fast and the Furious, Super Mario Brothers,and even some of Universal’s catalog might be fun to see recreated in a satirical LEGO world.
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The Canceled Projects and LEGO Universe Offer New Possibilities
Although it seems like Lin is already working on a way to reinvent the core series, LEGO frequently produces short films, miniseries, and television shows inspired by their products. There’s been creative success with direct-to-DVD titles in theLEGO City, BIonicle, Ninjago,andClutch Powerstitles, indicating that the LEGO brand is ever-growing and could certainly wrangle some interesting talent. The introduction of a new theme or reinvention of an older line of sets could certainly lead to a new and interesting installment in the universe.
Additionally, some of the projects that were initially canceled by Warner Bros. could be reinvented and revamped moving forward. In 2016, Drew Pearce and Jason Statham began writinga new LEGO movietentatively titledThe Billion Brick Race. The prospect of a racing movie using LEGO vehicles seems exciting, but sadly the film was canceled despite theemergence of intriguing concept art. It could be interesting to see the creative team reunited to see this project developed further.
