If these last few years have proven anything about the animation industry, it’s that female audiences are starting to become a very important part in the success of their films. Nowhere is that sentiment better reflected than the high percentage of female audiences that came out to see such films as How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Boxtrolls, The Book of Life, and Big Hero 6. Furthermore, it’s also proven that female-led films can make bank and have power (Frozen). So it comes as no surprise that even one of the newer, seemingly male-oriented animated franchises on the horizon is also willing to bank on the female sector of the crowd.
According to Collider (stemming from an original report on the BBC), The LEGO Movie 2 writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller confirmed that they plan for the sequel to feature more female characters. Speaking to BBC, Lord said the following: “It’s important to us that the movie plays broadly and that we inspire young women as much as we inspire young men.”
Miller then follows that up with: “I don’t want to give spoilers but there will be more female characters and more female stuff.” I think it can be assumed (at this point) that “more female stuff” means that we’re going to see a storyline(s) that puts the female characters more front and center along with Emmet.
These statements also echo comments made by animation supervisor Chris McKay, who was originally set to direct the film, but has since stepped down to direct LEGO Batman.
In any case, it’s a smart move. LEGO is no longer a property relegated to boys, and a huge part of that is simply just smart business. And that Lord and Miller are cognizant of that fact and scripting the film to appeal to the wider female audience is just smart business, especially as that audience keeps turning out to animated films in larger numbers.
The Lego Movie 2 is expected sometime in 2018.
What do you think? Is this a smart move for Lord and Miller?
