In what’s been dubbed as a ground-breaking move for the LEGO franchise, Aaron and Adam Nee, celebrated for their direction in The Lost City, are now set to spearhead a unique hybrid of live action and animation in the new LEGO movie. This major development was confirmed via a Variety report, stating the Nee brothers have a deal in place with Universal and The Lego Group, a partnership that predates the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
The brothers Nee, the report says, have committed to developing “a new hybrid live-action animation film around the Lego franchise,” a contract secured well before the labor disputes arose. Universal, it’s worth mentioning, formalized a five-year alliance with The Lego Group in 2020, enabling the production of fresh films and series based on the globally cherished toys.
The LEGO Movie: A Legacy of Success
The original LEGO Movie, launched in 2014, is a 3D-animated film that features an ordinary LEGO construction worker who is unexpectedly dubbed as “the special.” Thrust into a thrilling adventure, this regular worker is tasked with stopping an evil tyrant from turning the LEGO universe into a permanent stasis. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller crafted this masterpiece, which, despite formidable challenges, received widespread critical praise. The Lego Movie’s unexpected triumph has led to a sequel and numerous spinoffs, including the popular The Lego Batman Movie.
The next installment in the LEGO franchise remains shrouded in mystery, particularly regarding how it will balance live action and animation. The original LEGO Movie did incorporate a meta-style approach to its narrative, blending a live-action world with characters such as Will Ferrell playing a real-life businessman. Could this innovative method of storytelling hint at what to expect from The Lego Movie 3, directed by the Nee brothers? A possible convergence of the LEGO and human worlds? The suspense continues.
A Revamped Future for The Lego Movie 3
The prospect of The Lego Movie 3 isn’t new to fans. However, there’s increasing buzz about the sequel revolutionizing the franchise. Last year, Dan Lin, one of the key producers behind The Lego Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, hinted at a significant directional shift for the third part. “We know we have to switch it up and take to a different art form that’s still true to LEGO. We should have some announcements soon… I think we’ve reinvented it in a cool way,” Lin disclosed.
The Nee brothers’ rise to fame was marked by the success of their adventure comedy, The Lost City. Featuring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, the film follows a reclusive author, Loretta Sage, who’s abducted by an odd billionaire hoping she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure. Her book cover model, Alan, undertakes a brave mission to rescue her, intending to become a real-life hero.
Aside from their LEGO venture, the Nee brothers had also signed on to direct a live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe for Netflix as early as 2018. However, despite Netflix investing approximately $30 million on the project’s development, recent updates confirm its cancellation over budget concerns. Mattel, the franchise’s owners, are now likely to seek another studio for a live-action rendition of the adventures of He-Man and his companions.
Conclusion
As the Nee brothers, celebrated for their inventive storytelling, prepare to take the helm of The Lego Movie 3, fans eagerly anticipate the proposed live-action/animated hybrid. In a franchise renowned for its inventive and amusing representation of the LEGO universe, the incorporation of live action elements promises a novel, intriguing dimension to an already beloved series. As this ambitious project gradually takes shape, LEGO enthusiasts worldwide are eager for the next bold chapter in the LEGO cinematic saga.
