Sequels can be a risky business. As strong as an original film may be, there always exists a real possibility that the existence of a follow-up can be a taint (‘Yeah, but the sequel sucks’ is a nightmare refrain). As such, consternation is a part of any announcement regarding a project of the ilk – but generally you don’t hear it from the filmmakers who wind up helming the thing. That, however, was very much the situation for director Mike Mitchell in the making of The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.
Late last month I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Mike Mitchell and animation director Trisha Gum at the Los Angeles press day for the new LEGO Movie, and it was in discussion of the film’s evolution that Mitchell revealed his own hesitation about the making of the sequel. Referencing his early talks with The LEGO Movie writer/directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Mitchell said,
When Chris and Phil told me that they were going to make a sequel to the LEGO film, I was like, 'You guys shouldn't do that. It's like the perfect film. It's my favorite film.' I love that LEGO film, the original one. And then they pitched the story, and I was like, 'That is a great idea. That's so cool - to have a little sister and figure out what whole her whole world is'. And she's got like not just different lands, like in the first movie, she has a whole solar system filled with planets with characters and stuff. So I was sold.
Apparently all it took was an explanation from Phil Lord and Chris Miller about what their vision of the sequel would be, and Mike Mitchell was not only sold on the idea of buying a ticket, but also helping bring the film to life.
As alluded to by Mike Mitchell, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part picks up literally where the first film left off: with young Finn (Jadon Sand) getting word from his father (Will Ferrell) that he is going to have to share the LEGO space in the basement with his younger sister, Bianca (Brooklynn Prince). The sibling rivalry is quietly the basis for the entire plot of the film – with the LEGO world once again mirroring reality with its own story – and its depth and cleverness is legitimately what really makes the film work.
You can watch Mike Mitchell talking about signing on for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and being convinced that the movie should even be made by clicking play on the video below.
Based on a script by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part brings back most of the original cast – including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Will Arnett, and Charlie Day – and introduces audiences to new characters played by Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, and Richard Ayoade. The film arrives in theaters this Friday, February 8th, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend through the rest of the week for a lot more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers.
