The success of THE LEGO MOVIE has already resulted in an announced sequel and separate film based on the NINJAGO line of toys, but another spin-off is now coming and it is steeped in black (and sometimes very very dark grey). Will Arnett, who voiced LEGO Batman in the film, will return in his own movie set for release in 2017.
This means THE LEGO MOVIE 2, set for a 2017 release, will be pushed to an undisclosed date and replaced by THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. THE LEGO MOVIE's animation supervisor, Chris McKay, was set to direct THE LEGO MOVIE 2 and will instead helm the Batman spin-off. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith is penning the script.
Arnett's over-the-top take on Batman was one of the best parts of THE LEGO MOVIE. LEGO BATMAN is already a lucrative video game franchise that was also turned into an animated film (based on the second game's cutscenes). There is no plot known for this take on the character, but one would assume it would be very self-referential. It remains to be seen if any other characters from THE LEGO MOVIE will make an appearance, but expect more once Warner Bros announces a new release date for THE LEGO MOVIE 2.
The untitled LEGO BATMAN movie will hit theaters in 2017.