The LEGO Movie 2 Enters Development

As one instructional manual closes, another opens- but can Warner build a great sequel?
Warner Brothers have commenced pre-production on a follow-up to their upcoming animated film The LEGO Movie, according to reports published today. Backed by a prevalent marketing campaign that you can't fail to miss short of isolating yourself from social interaction and entertainment consumption, the project is one of the studio's most significant productions of 2014, and early critical reviews have been reassuringly positive so far.

If it wasn't already obvious, the decision to commission a new franchise instalment before the incumbent chapter's distribution appears to be becoming something of a trend within the mainstream film industry at present. We're already aware that Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Transformers: Age of Extinction, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will all lead on to further storylines for their respective franchises beyond their isolated release later this year. On the one hand, this strategy from the various studios is question is a sure-fire method to ensure a clear-cut future for their most respected ongoing series.

Such confidence can also breed complacency and with it unforeseen consequences, though, particularly if the latest instalment happens to be met with an unfavourable response. With an 85% average score from critics at present, of course, The LEGO Movie is in safe territory for a sequel, yet Warner may regret counting their eggs too rapidly if the original's acclaimed writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are unavailable to return for the sequel as reports suggest and if the screenplay thus suffers as a result. Whatever happens, at least for now the audience can simply engage with and hopefully relish the first big-budget cinematic adaptation of one of the world's most beloved toy franchises. Expect to see our review of this month's biggest block-buster (literally, in this instance) over the weekend...

The LEGO Movie will complete construction in UK cinemas nationwide on February 14th, with advance screenings set to take place on February 8th-9th.