The Lego Movie 2 is heading to the big screen in 2017. Not surprisingly, director Chris McKay is impossibly excited to spearhead the project.
Since the original flick made a killing at the box office earlier this year, the suits at Warner Bros. want to get the cinematic ball rolling on a sequel as soon as humanly possible. However, filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller won’t return to helm the follow-up.
Instead, Robot Chicken alum Chris McKay will tackle The Lego Movie 2 . He previously served as animation co-director on the first installment of the franchise. In other words, the guy knows what’s he’s doing.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald , McKay intends to make The Lego Movie 2 at the Australia-based animation studio Animal Logic . The original flick was also painstakingly crafted there.
“I’m super psyched to come back. It’s such a neat place and Grant Freckelton, the production designer, I’d follow that guy to the end of the earth because he brings this amazing visual eye to the table,” the director explained.
He added, “He’s one of Animal Logic’s best kept secrets. And then there are the artists and the people that work underneath him in the art department and modeling and lighting. It’s just a really, really great team.”
Empire reports that Lord and Miller will serve as producers on The Lego Movie sequel, while writers Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan will tackle the script. Warner Bros. has the follow-up tentatively scheduled for release around the planet in 2017. This should give everyone involved plenty of time to put together something fans will thoroughly enjoy.
While McKay helped out with the first Lego Movie , he’s no doubt feeling some pressure to deliver an incredible cinematic experience. After all, the film made an extremely healthy $231 million from moviegoers in North America. Considering the studio only spent $60 million on the project , it’s safe to say that Warner Bros. is swimming in cinematic cash.
Foreign totals are looking pretty good as well. The family-friendly animated flick generated upwards of $135 million overseas, a number that’s sure to grow when The Lego Movie hits home video later this year. Since the movie is still kicking up business in theaters, it’s unclear when Warner Bros. will unleash the film on DVD and Blu-ray.
Are you planning to catch The Lego Movie 2 on the big screen in 2017? What do you think about co-director Chris McKay taking the cinematic reins on the sequel?
[Top Image via Warner Bros.]