Shortly after Illumination Entertainment gave a new release date to one of its 2016 features, Warner Bros. also did the same for various installments of its new, successfully-launched animated franchise.
According to a press release, the studio reshuffled launch dates for the three upcoming films in the newly formed Lego Cinematic Universe (LCU).
The next LEGO film to open in theaters will not be LEGO Ninjago (as originally anticipated), but the as-of-yet untitled LEGO Batman film, which has been given a solid release date of February 10, 2017. This date was originally reserved for an untitled original feature from Warner Animation Group.
LEGO Ninjago was also moved to a new release date: September 22, 2017. No solid information was given for this change, but it was implied that Ninjago may need more production time before it can bow in theaters. Much like its previous launch date, Ninjago will battle an untitled Sony Animation feature that is also slated to release that day.
So effectively, we will have not one, but two LEGO films release in the same year (albeit spaced apart from each other).
Lastly, The LEGO Movie Sequel will open a week earlier than originally planned: May 18, 2018.
Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros., stated the following: “We are very excited about dating our upcoming LEGO animated features, which already have a worldwide fan following, built on the foundation of the first film. These three films already in the pipeline are just the beginning of a creative and diverse animation slate that will be delighting audiences for years to come.”
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures International, added, “We are looking forward to expanding the LEGO film franchise globally with these three incredibly imaginative movies, each offering something different to appeal to a broad range of audiences around the world.”
Jill Wilfert, Vice President of Licensing and Entertainment from The LEGO Group, noted, “We are so pleased to continue our creative partnership with Warner Bros. on these upcoming projects. It’s truly amazing to see how the big screen lends another dimension to the rich LEGO world, and offers new ways for fans to be engaged and entertained by these characters.”
There is still no release date set for The Billion Brick Race, which will be co-directed and co-written by Jason Segel and Drew Pearce. There is speculation (at least for now) that it might be the LCU film set for May 24, 2019.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the new LEGO films?
Edited by: Hannah Wilkes
