The Lego Movie was a major hit when it arrived in 2014, beginning a massive franchise in the process. Audiences really responded to the self-aware humor, which was both family-friendly and had plenty of jokes for the adults in the audience. Will Arnett's Lego Batman was the clear standout character, with the mini figure Dark Night even given his own spinoff with The Lego Batman Movie.
Given his tenure as an over the top Batman, Will Arnett considers himself a bit of an expert on the character. And on a recent late night appearance, Arnett took the time to throw a little shade at Justice League, choosing to ignore it from Ben Affleck's tenure as the character. As he said,
Justice League, I mean, I'm not counting that. But, yes, Ben did.
Shots fired. From one Bruce Wayne to another, it appears that Will Arnett wasn't particularly enthused with Justice League. This echoes the fan reaction, and is sure to tickle DC fans who are thirsting for a feud.
Will Arnett's quip comes from his recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! While promoting his role as Lego Batman in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Arnett spoke with host Jimmy Kimmel about the myriad other versions of the iconic character. And when addressing Ben Affleck's hulking version of Bruce Wayne, the was sure to quickly jab Justice League. The guy's a comedian, after all.
Justice League has been the butt of quite a few jokes since it arrived in theaters in 2017. When Zack Snyder dropped out of the project during filming due to a family emergency, The Avengers and Buffy's Joss Whedon was brought on to complete the film. The two directors' visions ultimately clashed, and the film was a disappointment. And given the sky high expectations associated with the blockbuster, the jokes quickly started flying.
While Will Arnett threw a little shade at Justice League, he wasn't ignoring Ben Affleck's contribution to the character. He does mention the actor's other credits, in reference to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and his small role in Suicide Squad. Affleck's Batman was largely considered the best part about BvS, as he offered a jaded, experienced, and emotionally scarred version of the popular DC hero. These feelings fueled his violence, showing a Caped Crusader that had abandoned his typical moral code.
Considering his role in the Lego Movie franchise, Will Arnett does seem like the right guy to poke fun at Batman. The movies constantly do just that, as Arnett takes on a gravely voice spoofing Christian Bale's tenure. And The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part's trailers already showed the movie's penchant for taking jabs at Justice League, as one clip laments that Green Lantern was left out of Snyder's movie.
You can see for yourself when The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part arrives in theaters on February 8th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
