In addition to the three live-action LEGO movies in the works, Kevin and Dan Hageman, the creative minds behind the long-running animated series Ninjago, are set to write a new live-action Lego Ninjago movie for Universal Pictures.
Having created and written several seasons of the beloved animated series, the Hageman brothers bring deep familiarity with Ninjago‘s characters and storylines, making them a fitting choice for this project. Details about the movie’s plot are under wraps for now.
This new Ninjago movie is part of a larger slate of live-action Lego movies in development at Universal, with directors like Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish also working on upcoming Lego-based projects. Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians will produce for The Lego Group, while Matt Reilly and Jacqueline Garell from Universal will oversee the film’s development.
The Ninjago universe has grown significantly since its 2011 launch as a Lego ninja-themed toy line. It expanded into video games, graphic novels, and the hugely popular Ninjago animated series, which ran for 15 seasons on Cartoon Network and Netflix. The franchise also made its theatrical debut with The LEGO Ninjago Movie in 2017, produced by Warner Bros., and continues to entertain fans with themed attractions at Legoland parks worldwide.
Universal entered into a five-year deal with The Lego Group in 2020 for the development, production, and theatrical distribution of Lego movies. Since 2014’s The LEGO Movie, Lego films have been a lucrative venture, bringing in over $1 billion globally. This collaboration has included projects like The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.
The Hagemans recently worked as showrunners for Star Trek: Prodigy, which recently transitioned from Paramount+ to Netflix. They are also adapting Dragon’s Lair for Netflix and were previously behind Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for Guillermo del Toro and Lionsgate, a box office success. The Hagemans’ contributions to Netflix’s Trollhunters also earned them an Emmy Award.
Source: Deadline
