THE LEGO MOVIE doesn’t even open until Friday, but test screenings and critical reaction is very positive so far with projections having the animated film opening number one this weekend. So, you know what that means: a sequel is coming!
Sources have Jared Stern, screenwriter of MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS and THE INTERNSHIP, working with an undisclosed other writer on the follow-up to the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller scripted first movie. Lord and Miller lent their creativity to the CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS films as well as the big screen 21 JUMP STREET movies. There is no word on whether they will be directing the proposed sequel.
Interestingly, Warner Bros has assembled a team to work on their animated slate moving forward, including Stern, Miller, and Lord. Also in the group are THE MUPPETS director Nicholas Stoller and BAD SANTA’s Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Each will work on their own films, including the in development films STORKE and SMALLFOOT, while consulting on each other’s projects and future films.
WB has been something of an animation wasteland for years now, so it is cool to see that they are working to develop a brand behind the scenes much in the way that Pixar and Dreamworks have done before them. Hopefully, THE LEGO MOVIE represents the first step in that direction.
THE LEGO MOVIE opens February 7th in theaters.