It looks like LEGO is cozying up with Universal Pictures, with the goal of working towards its next brickfilm endeavor. After launching its series of major brick-inspired animations from the highly successful LEGO Movie and toward its not lackluster sequel, the LEGO Group practically cut ties with WB with the unfortunate cancellation of its next brickfilm, a LEGO Movie spin-off, The Billion Brick Race.
However, an exclusive report from the Variety now tells us that Universal Pictures will be the next film production company that will most likely pick up the pieces were WB left off. According to Variety’s sources that are privy to the confidential deal, the said partnership will have a “much broader use” of the various IPs that LEGO featured in the past. Another exciting thing about the deal is the idea is having the most famous films under Universal’s belt translated into LEGO bricks. We already know that a LEGO Minions theme will be coming in the first half of 2020, and a bunch of LEGO Trolls World Tour tie-in sets will also be available come by January 1st. And after the success of both the LEGO Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sets, LEGO has a pretty good grasp of the benefits of partnering with Universal.
Here’s what Variety has to say about this LEGO-Universal deal.
Universal Pictures is in talks with the LEGO Group to develop new feature film properties based on the popular block toys, numerous sources close to the pending deal told Variety.
Producer Dan Lin, who has made several films based on the childhood staple at Warner Bros., is expected to remain on future projects despite his overall deal at Warners.
The pact with Universal is a much broader use of the intellectual property than the previous films, sources said, which saw actors like Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks bring life to geometric heroes in a world populated by Legos.
Among the ideas Universal is floating is a reimagining of its own content library through the toys, sources said. “Jurassic World,” for instance, saw a spinoff LEGO series made and sold globally in 2019, which aired in the U.S. on Nickelodeon. There are also concepts floating for live-action hybrid features.
Both parties are still mum about the deal, neither denying nor confirming the rumored deal about LEGO’s next brickfilm. I’ll keep you posted once the official word comes out.
