Fresh off their recent success with The Lost City, Aaron and Adam Nee, collectively known as the Nee Brothers, will helm the upcoming LEGO film franchise at Universal Pictures.
This new endeavor comes after a deal with the LEGO Group that Universal inked back in 2020, allowing them to create new films and series based on the iconic building bricks. The proposed LEGO film will be a live-action/animated hybrid, a novel approach compared to the franchise’s previous CGI-heavy features.
The Nee brothers, known for helming films such as The Last Romantic, Band of Robbers, and The Lost City, are well-versed in projects that blend comedy, adventure, and romance. Now, this talented duo is all set to bring their magic to the LEGO franchise.
Despite the recent cancelation of the Nee brothers’ Masters of the Universe film by Netflix, this recent piece of news gives fans of the twosome plenty to look forward to. The shift of the LEGO film rights from Warner Bros. to Universal seems to be steering the franchise in a new direction, bringing about what Dan Lin, one of the producers behind the earlier LEGO films, calls a “complete reinvention” that stays true to the LEGO spirit.
The previous LEGO movies like The LEGO Movie and its sequel, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, The LEGO Batman Movie, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie were predominantly CGI-based and included references to the Warner Bros.’ universe of characters. This new incarnation of the franchise, however, is expected to move away from this tradition. The LEGO films at Universal may forge their path, possibly limiting if not removing the references to Warner Bros.’ characters entirely.
Interestingly enough, there’s precedence for the live-action/animated hybrid approach in the franchise’s history, albeit sparingly. Both The LEGO Movie and its sequel featured live-action components with its predominantly animated narrative. But the possibility remains for the Nee brothers to focus more on original LEGO characters and narratives, rather than rely on pop-culture references. Fans of the franchise may have to bid farewell to familiar faces like Will Arnett’s LEGO Batman and his friends, as the brothers take the LEGO franchise on a new journey.
As the LEGO world braces for a new creative vision, the anticipation builds. How are the Nee brothers infusing their charm into this beloved brand? Will they mesh the real world with the LEGO world as The LEGO Movie did, or take us down to an entirely fresh avenue? It’s a game of wait-and-see. The LEGO franchise is indeed ready for its next big blockbuster, and with the Nee brothers at the helm, we can expect a delightful reinvention.
