Batman fever is sweeping the nation, with fans getting ready to see the new version of the Caped Crusader in Warner Bros.' Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opening this Friday.Ben Affleck takes over as the iconic superhero in this next DC Comics adventure. But as it turns out, the studio is also be debuting a much different version of the legendary character this week, with USA Today showing off the first photos from The LEGO Batman Movie, arriving in theaters February 10, 2017. Along with the first photos from the animated movie, the site reveals that the first trailer will arrive Wednesday, March 23.Back in 2014, Will Arnett voiced the mini-fig version of Batman in The Lego Movie, which went on to become a box office hit, taking in $257.7 million domestically and $469.1 million worldwide, from a $60 million budget. That movie's success lead to Warner Bros. announcing a number of spinoffs, with The LEGO Batman Movie arriving first next February, followed by Ninjago (September 22, 2017) and The Lego Movie Sequel (May 18, 2018).
Will Arnett returns to voice Batman in this animated sequel, revealing to USA Today that the Lego version of the Batcave has gotten some serious upgrades."The Batcave is even better than we remembered it, it's awesome. But I also love getting into the ho-hum day-to-day of being Batman and what it's like to fight crime each day. Like the idea of Batman oversleeping his alarm clock makes me laugh. It really does humanize him."The story centers on Batman's solitary life in the Batcave and the only meaningful relationship in his life, with his butler Alfred (voiced by Ralph Fiennes). The plot thickens when Batman's world is upended by the arrival of two sidekicks, Dick Greyson, a.k.a. Robin (Michael Cera) and Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl (Rosario Dawson). Here's what director Chris McKay, who served as the animation director on The Lego Movie, had to say about the story, teasing that several other well-known superheroes will be featured in cameo appearances as well."We thought if we can tell a well-rounded, funny story that's action-packed, we can build a big movie around this character.
Batman is an island onto himself, the only thing he doesn't have is relationships. We're making About a Boy as directed by (action director) Michael Mann. We're nothing but exhaustive about the cameos and other characters that try to enter Batman's life."The director is still in production in Australia, creating an intricate LEGO world for this beloved superhero. The director teased they're building an "entire city, the Batcave and vehicles," and they're going "deep into Batman's world." The voice cast is rounded out by Zach Galifianakis as The Joker and Mariah Carey as the mayor of Gotham City. Be sure to check back on Wednesday for the first trailer, but until then, check out the new photos from The LEGO Batman Movie below.ReviewThe Lego Batman Movie - Review Megathread (self.movies)submitted by So it's treason then[M]Rotten Tomatoes: 98% David Ehrlich - Indiewire Steve Rose - The Guardian Robbie Collin - The Telegraph Neil Smith - Total Film Mike Ryan - Uproxx
Daniel Krupa - IGN Michael Rechtshaffen - The Hollywood Reporter Alonso Durade - The Wrap Owen Gleiberman - Variety please tag me for any major publications/critic additionsFirst images from The Lego Batman Movie Despite – or possibly because of – his clueless arrogance, Batman proved to be one of the breakout characters of 2014's The Lego Movie, a film with no shortage of memorable creations. Now, with Will Arnett back voicing the preening superhero, he's getting his own film, The Lego Batman Movie, and the first pictures have arrived via USA Today. The new adventure will offer a deeper dive into Batman's world, drawing on elements from every incarnation. We'll even get to see how he spends his time when he's not out fighting crime, or writing theme songs about his dark, orphan status. “The Batcave is even better than we remembered it, it’s awesome” Arnett tells the paper. “But I also love getting into the ho-hum day-to-day of being Batman and what it’s like to fight crime each day.
It really does humanize him.” While he's usually happy battling the bad guys solo and interacting with butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), our hero's life will be disrupted by the arrival of new sidekicks Robin (Michael Cera) and Batgirl, AKA Barbara Gordon, voiced by Rosario Dawson. And on the side of villainy, there's The Joker, voiced here by Zach Galifianakis. Expect a lot of people to pop up, Lego Movie-style, for cameos. “We thought if we can tell a well-rounded, funny story that’s action-packed, we can build a big movie around this character,” says director Chris McKay. “This is the movie we would want to see.” The Lego Batman Movie is out here on February 10, 2017. The first trailer should arrive on Wednesday.TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Will Arnett has somehow become the greatest Batman of all time by simply using his voice. "The Lego Batman Movie" not only continues the momentum of the joyfully irreverent "The Lego Movie," but blows out the best part of that film -- Arnett's Batman cameo -- and runs with it for an entire, incredibly funny romp.
Director Chris McKay, who has made a career of stop-motion action figure films with funny voices in "Robot Chicken," wields his exhaustive knowledge of the character's ridiculous past as Batman does his utility belt gadgets. Arnett's gravelly, delusional delivery is the perfect conduit to deconstruct the Caped Crusader's decades of absurdity. And Michael Cera is his perfect counterpoint, with a giddy optimism that clashes with his mentor's dark obsessiveness.Nailing a tone established by the likes of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," the movie follows Batman's determination to go it alone in a world that's determined to make friends with him.Robin, Batgirl (Rosario Dawson) and Alfred the butler (Ralph Fiennes) join him to take down the Joker's (Zach Galifianakis) nefarious plan to unleash all sorts of movie villains on Gotham. Sticking with the genre-mashup happiness of "The Lego Movie," the likes of Sauron, Voldemort and King Kong make appearances, just because. It all adds to the anything-goes mayhem that keeps things invigorating.