It's often tragic to think about how things might have been after a promising project is canceled. Sure, some might still offer a glimmer of hope, like with Lucifer's miraculous rescue by Netflix. But generally, a cancellation tends to be permanent, and one of the most heartbreaking might just come from the possibilities behind a now extremely unlikely sequel to the fantastic LEGO Batman Movie.
Chris McKay, who directed the first LEGO Batman film, apparently had some ambitious ideas for the sequel before the LEGO brand transferred from Warner Bros. to Universal, thus complicating the idea of a proper continuation. "The structure was [similar to] Godfather Part 2," McKay said when speaking with Collider, "a story about Batman's relationship to the Justice League (and Superman) now as well as the formative moments of the Justice League (and Batman's relationship with Superman) then." Not only did he want to expand on the idea of Batman finally learning to trust other people the second time around, but he had also already lined up some truly enviable talent to help him create the next chapter.
McKay also managed to bring Community creator Dan Harmon (now working on a new animated series about ancient Greece) on board as a writer. "I'm pretty sure we approached Dan about it," McKay continued. "I worked with Dan briefly on [The Sarah Silverman Program] and loved working with him and [Harmon's co-creator] Rob Schrab." Not only that, but the LEGO Batman sequel would have also included Loki writer Michael Waldron, who helpfully shared a hilarious title page for the film on Twitter, teasing fans with what might have been.
The LEGO Batman Movie was a surprise when it came out. As a spinoff to the acclaimed LEGO Movie, it not only met the same comedic standards as its parent film, but arguably surpassed them. Featuring an all-star celebrity voice cast including Will Arnett and Star Wars newcomer Rosario Dawson, its hilarious script was brought to life with gusto, and the hybrid CGI/stop motion animation style connected it all together beautifully, as LEGO pieces tend to do.
Another LEGO Batman Movie would have been a welcome addition to the DC Universe and just to movies in general. The original's masterfully written and executed comedy combined exquisitely with its genuine heartfelt moments, such as Batman finally realizing the importance of his new friends while battling against Lord Voldemort and the Eye of Sauron (yes, that really happened). In a way, it's kind of like HBO Max's Harley Quinn series, except with a lot less blood and fewer f-bombs.
So don't mourn the loss of what was sure to be an excellent sequel. Celebrate the fact that the original came out at all. The LEGO Batman Movie is a unique piece of cinematic excellence, which may sound like an exaggeration when discussing a LEGO movie that's technically a spinoff. But it's an honest truth (or at least a really ambitious opinion). Anyone interested in some zany fun with just the right amount of character development needs to look no further than this brick-busting adventure, if only just to prove to Universal that a continuation would be most welcome if they ever decide to be cool about it.
The LEGO Batman Movie is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Collider