In watching the trailers for LEGO Batman, we’ve all been pumped about how much life and joy the movie appears to have. The jokes are fun, and the characterization of Batman is a lot campier while still reinforcing the intense loneliness that encompasses Bruce Wayne’s life and choices. And, of course, the movie looks like it aims to mine that loneliness for further comedic gold. Here’s something else we’ve noticed: LEGO Batman looks like a much more diverse take on the Batman world. For example, Rosario Dawson’s iteration of Barbara Gordon has been designed to look just like her. Same goes for Two-Face, who will be voiced by Billy Dee Williams—probably best known for playing Lando Calrissian in Star Wars, but who also has played Two-Face previously in the 1989 Batman. Even some of the smaller bit parts have subverted expectations, such as Mariah Carey getting cast as the mayor of Gotham. It sounds like some of that was Chris McKay’s doing; he served as director for LEGO Batman, having previously co-directed The LEGO Movie, as well as directing and editing tons of episodes of Robot Chicken and Moral Orel.
McKay told Film Journal that he’s a lifelong Batman fan, and that this movie was a total dream come true for him: “I’ve got a Catwoman tattoo on one arm, Superman tattoo on the other. I am super into making this movie.” Still, McKay sees the flaws in the Batman franchise, acknowledging, “The cast of characters in Batman is a sausage-fest. It’s a bunch of white guys, for the most part.” He went on to say that he wanted to ensure that LEGO Batman‘s version of Gotham “looks like a real city,” with all the metropolitan diversity that tends to entail, like in “Chicago or New York or Los Angeles. That was really important [to me], to find ways of making the world look like it looks outside and sound like it sounds outside.” That meant casting actors like Rosario Dawson and Billy Dee Williams in familiar roles, but McKay also gave a shout-out to Mariah Carey’s performance as well: “She called up to say she wanted to audition for Barbara Gordon. She didn’t necessarily work for Barbara, but I thought she had such an interesting, great voice …
She’s got a little bit of New York in there. She sounds like a hard-won, battle-hardened big-city mayor. It was a lot of fun. Every day that we recorded her, she always came to play.” What sounds most promising is McKay’s excitement that this will be a Batman movie for the whole family–just like the family-friendly superhero shows he grew up watching, like Super Friends, re-runs of Adam West’s Batman and, in the ’90s, Batman: The Animated Series. As McKay points out, “it’s going to be some kid’s first Batman movie,” and this version of Gotham will be the one that they remember. It’s exciting to hear that this will be the version of Gotham City that those kids get to see. (via Film Journal, images via LEGO Wiki for Two Face and Batgirl) Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site! —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
Follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google+.Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Recording artist Mariah Carey took her adorable children to the Los Angeles premiere of The LEGO Batman Movie Saturday night. The singer and her 5-year-old fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe, posed for photographers before going into the event. Carey shares the kids with her ex-husband, actor and musician Nick Cannon. The animated movie's stars Will Arnett, who lends his voice to the titular superhero, Rosario Dawson, who plays Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Zach Galifinakis, who portrays the Joker, were also spotted at the gala. The film is set for theatrical release Friday. 'Split' is the No. 1 movie in North America for a third week Millie Bobby Brown joins cast of 'Godzilla' sequel Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett take the subway in first 'Ocean's 8' image 'Hidden Figures' earns SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Film Topics: Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, Will Arnett, Rosario Dawson
HomeMailFlickrTumblrNewsSportsFinanceCelebrityAnswersGroupsMobileYahooSearchSkip to NavigationSkip to Main ContentSkip to Related Content0MailAssociated PressFebruary 12, 2017 This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, in a scene from "The LEGO Batman Movie." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP) LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Moviegoers could choose violence, sex or family-friendly fare this weekend with three diverse new offerings that all drew healthy numbers at the North American box office."The Lego Batman Movie" took the top spot with $55.6 million, dominating "Fifty Shades Darker," which attracted $46.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.The spinoff of 2014's "Lego Movie" benefited from good reviews and a lack of competition in the family space, which is expected to help it maintain its pace going into the holiday weekend, when kids are out of school.A whopping 48 percent of opening weekend audiences was under 25. It also bodes well for Warner Bros.' next Lego spinoff, "The Lego Ninjago Movie," set for September.U.S.
audiences were slightly less curious to catch up with the exploits of Christian Grey and Ana Steele the second time around. The sequel didn't compare to "Fifty Shades of Grey's" $85.2 million debut in 2015.Nick Carpou, Universal Pictures' president of domestic theatrical distribution, said the first movie debuted in a "perfect storm." The film adaptation of the best-selling book had gained immense interest and Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday in 2015, making the movie a date-night destination. This year, the holiday lands on a Tuesday."This is a great start," Carpou said, noting that the CinemaScore from audiences is stronger for the sequel. "The story will be told through the first part of this week.""Fifty Shades Darker" fared much better abroad, bringing in $100.1 million and topping international charts.The other R-rated sequel in theaters this weekend, "John Wick: Chapter 2" took third place. With $30 million, it more than doubled the debut of the original. The Keanu Reeves hit man flick became a sleeper hit on the small screen, and that goodwill helped bolster interest in the follow-up, which is also getting strong reviews."
People really love its unapologetic violence," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for box office tracker comScore.Rounding out the top five were holdovers "Split," the M. Night Shyamalan psychological thriller that added $9.3 million, for a total of $112.3 million in earnings, and Oscar contender "Hidden Figures" with $8 million, boosting its total to $131.5 million.It was a strong weekend overall for theaters, attributable to the different options available, Dergarabedian said."The tried and true brands are what people really gravitated to this weekend. The top three movies this weekend all based on brands that people know and love," he said. "Each film drew their own audience without harming the other films. This was a perfectly programmed weekend."Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday also are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.1.
"The Lego Batman Movie," $55.6 million ($37 million international).2. "Fifty Shades Darker," $46.8 million ($100.1 million international).3. "John Wick: Chapter 2," $30 million ($10.6 million international).4. "Split," $9.3 million ($8.5 million international).5. "Hidden Figures," $8 million ($2.7 million international).6. "A Dog's Purpose," $7.4 million ($1.5 million international).7. "Rings," $5.8 million ($9.6 million international).8. "La La Land," $5 million ($11.5 million international).9. "Lion," $4.1 million ($3.6 million international).10. "The Space Between Us," $1.8 million ($1.3 million international).___Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:1. "Fifty Shades Darker," $100.1 million.2. "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage," $69.3 million.3. "The Lego Batman Movie," $37 million.4. "Kung Fu Yoga," $16 million.5. "Cook Up a Storm, $12.1 million.6. ""La La Land," $11.5 million.8. "Jolly LLB 2," $10.5 million.9.