LEGO Movie Release Dates

[Hapori Tohu]

We've known that more LEGO movies are coming, but now Warner Bros. has announced the exact release dates for the movies. The Batman LEGO Movie will start playing on February 10, 2017, the Ninjago movie will hit theaters on September 22, 2017, and the highly anticipated LEGO Movie Sequel will premier on May 18, 2018. And by the sounds of it, Warner Bros has a lot more plans for our favorite plastic universe in the coming years, so there will be plenty to look forward to.

 

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[fishers64]

I thought the Ninjago movie was coming out in 2016.

[Vorahk1Panrahk2]

I think that was originally what it was slated for, but these things tend to change early in production.

[Sumiki]

They must know a lot more than we do about how well The LEGO Movie did, otherwise they wouldn't be going all Marvel Cinematic Universe on us.

[Toa Smoke Monster]

The Ninjago movie comes out a day after my birthday. I guess it could be a good gift for someone who will be turning 26 at the time.

[Rooster Nui]

Whoa, another three years before The Lego Movie 2 comes to theatres! I wonder what's going to happen with the toyline in that time...

[Lyichir]

I'm a bit bummed about Ninjago being pushed back. On the one hand, more development time tends to result in a better product, whether you're talking about movies, games, toys, or what have you. But I was excited for the Ninjago movie happening next year, as well as what it would mean for the brand strategy (with the hopes that it would bring things like a Collectible Minifigure series). And now, with the movie pushed back, I hope it doesn't screw with the set plans for next year, forcing them to hastily develop an interim story arc and set assortment like they did last year.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

They must know a lot more than we do about how well The LEGO Movie did, otherwise they wouldn't be going all Marvel Cinematic Universe on us.

 

The "analysts" with their guesstimates predicted that The LEGO Movie would do so well that Warner Bros. ordered a sequel before the first one even came out. If that's how confident they are it's no wonder they're taking advantage of the film's popularity to make a bunch of spinoffs.

 

Am I the only one who lost interest in the Ninjago film when we learned it wasn't a TV show spinoff?

[dotcom]

I really can't think of any way in which a movie related to a show that is now, what, 5 years old, (and will be 7 when the movie actually comes out) would be a good idea. Most moviegoers will not be familiar at all with the Ninjago show, so that'd be alienating a ton of people from the get go. And the characters in the show are already pretty well defined and have all gone through their arcs and will probably continue to do so, leaving the movie less room to move the characters around. And honestly I'd much rather see a fresh take on the story than just use the show's universe. (which is already kind of convoluted and will probably continue to get even more so)  It's not like the show is even that amazing, so the movie being related to it wouldn't necessarily even be assurance that it'd be for the better. So no, I'm really pretty ok with it being its own thing.

[Aanchir]

 

They must know a lot more than we do about how well The LEGO Movie did, otherwise they wouldn't be going all Marvel Cinematic Universe on us.

 

The "analysts" with their guesstimates predicted that The LEGO Movie would do so well that Warner Bros. ordered a sequel before the first one even came out. If that's how confident they are it's no wonder they're taking advantage of the film's popularity to make a bunch of spinoffs.

 

Am I the only one who lost interest in the Ninjago film when we learned it wasn't a TV show spinoff?

 

 

I don't think so, but personally I don't really care. As long it remains true to the compelling characters and universe of the TV show, I'm not too fussed about whether or not it's a part of the same continuity. And considering it's being penned by the Hageman brothers, just like the TV show, I don't think there's any reason to fear the movie fundamentally misunderstanding the story's appeal.

 

I really can't think of any way in which a movie related to a show that is now, what, 5 years old, (and will be 7 when the movie actually comes out) would be a good idea. Most moviegoers will not be familiar at all with the Ninjago show, so that'd be alienating a ton of people from the get go. And the characters in the show are already pretty well defined and have all gone through their arcs and will probably continue to do so, leaving the movie less room to move the characters around. And honestly I'd much rather see a fresh take on the story than just use the show's universe. (which is already kind of convoluted and will probably continue to get even more so)  It's not like the show is even that amazing, so the movie being related to it wouldn't necessarily even be assurance that it'd be for the better. So no, I'm really pretty ok with it being its own thing.

Well, it could arguably be handled similarly to the Pokémon movies, telling more or less a stand-alone story that does not fit rigidly into a particular point in the show's continuity. But considering that Ninjago is incredibly continuity-driven, it's hard to say just how difficult that might have been to pull off.

 

Though I will disagree with you on one point — by my reckoning, the show is pretty amazing. I'm always impressed how continuity-driven it is and how much it avoids settling into a comfortable status quo. The characters and world develop with each passing season. Call it convoluted if you like, but that approach certainly seems to have served it well, considering that even after being set back by a hiatus in 2013, its popularity has continued to grow.

 

Just look at how search interest in Ninjago measures up to BIONICLE on Google Trends. Of course, BIONICLE's storyline was considerably MORE convoluted — to the point that there were more years when the main characters changed completely than years where the main characters remained the same or mostly the same. At least LEGO Ninjago has largely maintained its focus on the same main characters since 2011, aside from Lloyd joining the team in 2012.

[dotcom]

The Ninjago show is the best we've seen from Lego and, for what it is, it's certainly great, but it's far from what I'd consider an amazing series. It can be somewhat hit or miss (season 2 being probably the best/worst example), its quality is not as consistent as I would like, and the backstory and setting's history is almost as contradictory and oft-retconned as I would consider it convoluted. I'm not saying this is necessarily bad for the show (not always anyway), because they manage to make it work, but still, it's certainly flawed. Considering how many great cartoons there are out there, as much as I do generally enjoy the Ninjago show (this last season in particular was really good) I can't really justify giving it high praise.

 

Of course, that being said, it would be good if the movie drew from some of the strongest traits of the series. The soundtrack, for instance, is one of the best things about the series and the movie would do well to take cues from it for atmosphere.