Once THE LEGO MOVIE went on to surprise audiences with just how much fun it was, and a healthy box-office take certainly didn't hurt either, a new franchise was born and Warner Bros. was quick to expand the series, announcing not only a sequel to the first film, but several spin-offs as well. One of those spin-off's has largely flown under the radar since then and I must admit that I'd forgotten all about it. THE BILLION BRICK RACE originated from an idea by Drew Pearce (IRON MAN 3) which excited the studio, who originally set Drew Pearce and Jason Segel to write and co-direct the project. However, it appears that Pearce and Segel are out and THE BOOK OF LIFE director Jorge Gutierrez is in.
Per THR, Gutierrez has been tapped by Warner Bros. to develop and direct THE BILLION BRICK RACE, but, that's pretty much all we know about the upcoming LEGO MOVIE spin-off. Although if I had to guess, I would say that it may involve a race of some kind, shocker, I know. Perhaps THE BILLION BRICK RACE could put the LEGO spin on something like IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, which would certainly give Jorge Gutierrez plenty of opportunities to throw in a variety of characters.
The next film on Warner Bros.' LEGO slate will be THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE, in which young Master Builder Lloyd (Dave Franco) and his friends are all secret ninja warriors led by the wise-cracking Master Wu (Jackie Chan). Together, they must defeat the evil warlord Garmadon (Justin Theroux), who also happens to be Lloyd's dad. Pitting mech against mech and father against son, the epic showdown will test this fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash their inner power of Spinjitzu.
THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE will hit theaters on September 22, 2017, while THE LEGO MOVIE SEQUEL is due for a February 8, 2019 release.
