History
Brickfilms (films using Lego) have existed since the 1970s. In 2003, Lego officially made its first partnership to make films based on its toy property. They chose Bionicle as the property and they made a deal with Miramax to make a trilogy of Bionicle films. After the trilogy ended, a new trilogy based on Bionicle was planned with Universal after the Miramax film contract ended and the first film in the new trilogy would be titled Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. But plans broke down between Lego and Universal, resulting in the fifth film being cancelled. However, a film was later released, entitled Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers. The film received positive reviews from fans and critics and, after the DVD release, a sequel was set to star Clutch as the hero again. A mini-sequel and a short film based on Clutch Powers were released but plans for a sequel are unknown.
In the summer of 2009, Lego made a deal with Warner Bros. to make a film based on its property. It would feature many themes and characters and would be released as the first Lego film in cinemas. In 2009, Lego also planned the concept for the now successful theme Lego Ninjago. In 2011, Lego released a TV series titled Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. Later, in 2012, the untitled Lego film was titled Lego: The Piece of Resistance. Meanwhile, the Ninjago series achieved popularity and was praised by many fans and critics for its storytelling and plot. The characters on the show were developed after the first season and a video game based on the show was released. The show would then be confirmed to exist in the same universe as Lego Clutch Powers as in one episode, Clutch Powers would be mentioned by Cole as one of the adventurers who discovered a mystical Snake tooth.
Later in the year, Ninjago ended its second season with continued positive feedback. A new show titled Legends of Chima would air in January 2013. The show received mixed reviews, as fans demanded the return of Ninjago. In the same year, the "Piece of Resistance" film would be renamed The Lego Movie by Warner Bros. and it was released in February 2014. The Lego Movie received wide acclaim from Lego fans and critics for its characters, plot, special effects and humor. Many actors from the Lego universe reprised their roles in the film. Due to the success of the film, a Ninjago film was announced to be released in 2017, and a Lego Movie sequel was announced to be released in 2018. In 2014, Mixels also debuted. In late 2015, Nexo Knights was introduced, replacing Legends of Chima.
In late 2016, Ninjago released a Halloween TV special for its five-year anniversary. On 10 February 2017, a spin-off film of The Lego Movie known as The Lego Batman Movie was released in theatres, but this time centred around The Lego Movie characters and DC Comics superhero, Batman, and his adopted orphan son and apprentice sidekick, Robin.
On 22 September 2017, The Lego Ninjago Movie was released in theatres, which was based on the characters of the Ninjago series, but was not connected to the events in the television show.
An additional film with Warner Bros named "Billion Brick Race" was planned, but was cancelled in 2018 for unknown reasons. Little is known about what the film was supposed to be, with the exception of some concept artwork shared by the Director, Jorge Gutierrez. This art depicted a variety of LEGO characters in a grunge-inspired look.
In March 2019, Ninjago released a 88 minute TV movie named The March of Oni on Cartoon Network, which also celebrated the 100th episode of the show.
In April 2020, Universal Pictures announced it had established a five-year deal for exclusive rights for the production of further Lego movies with The Lego Group; the four existing Lego films made by Warner Bros. (The Lego Movie, The Lego Movie 2, The Lego Batman Movie, and The Lego Ninjago Movie) would stay with that studio. This move potentially allows Universal to make Lego films based on its own catalog of properties such as Jurassic Park, Fast and Furious and Despicable Me.[1][2][3]
