Before anyone complains, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller can do whatever they want. Sure, we'd all like to see DC's two biggest characters team up for a Warner Bros. live action Justice League movie but having Superman and Batman appear in Lord and Miller's Lego: The Piece of Resistance is the next best thing. And not only because the writing-directing duo behind the unexpected animated treat, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, as well as one of the best live-action comedies of this year, 21 Jump Street, is calling the shots but also in light of their recent casting choices.
According to Variety, Lord and Miller have tapped Parks and Rec's Chris Pratt to voice their 'Average-Joe,' Lego lead Emmet, an unlikely hero who, after being confused for being the 'MasterBuilder,' is caught up on a quest to prevent the universe from being glued together. Arrested Development's Will Arnett has been cast as the Caped Crusader, presumably one of the 'fellowship' of heroes, and the studio is also courting Channing Tatum for the Man of Steel. I'm a fan of Tatum but am not sold on his voice as being right for Supes in any capacity, even one that's surely set to poke fun at the boy-scoutish icon. Scheduling may keep Tatum out of the project that would have him re-team with his 21 Jump Street directors.
The other two choices couldn't be more perfect. Pratt steals the show in just about everything he's in, whether on TV as Andy Dwyer or in a more subdued role like Scott Hatteberg in Moneyball. And talk about the right voice for Batman. I immediately thought about the Tina Fey/30 Rock joke with Arnett and Alec Baldwin having a 'talking like this' contest. His deep voice and impeccable comedic timing is an ideal match to bring Lord and Miller's Batman to Lego-life. Warner Bros and the toy manufacturer have been in business for years and after their Lego Batman: The Videogame title sold 12 million copies, we shouldn't be surprised that he's finding his way onto the big screen.
Lego: The Piece of Resistance is scheduled for release on Feb. 28, 2014.
