Ninjago (film)

Ninjago is an upcoming American computer-animated fantasy film based on the Lego Ninjago toy line. Produced by Warner Animation Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is intended to be the 10th film in the franchise and a standalone sequel to Lego Ninjago (2018). The film will be directed by Kirk DeMicco and written by Josh Cooley, and stars an ensemble cast featuring of Dave Franco, Michael Pena, Kumail Nanjiani, Abbi Jacobson, Zach Woods, Fred Armisen, Justin Theroux and Olivia Munn.
Charlie Bean was interested in a Lego Ninjago sequel in March 2018, but Warner Bros. scrapped the project at the time. In May 2021, the studio began taking interest in a sequel, and the film was revealed to be in development in September 2022 after the success of Lego Dimensions. DeMicco and Cooley joined in February 2023 and the film's main cast members were revealed that after that. Production at the hands of Animal Logic is scheduled to begin in April 2024, in Australia.
Ninjago is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 6, 2026.
==Premise==
Ninjago is in danger from a Stone army of darkness.Kroll, Justin (February 18, 2023). "Warner Bros. schredule 'Lego Ninjago 2' Movie Taps Kirk Demicco As Director"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
==Cast==
*Dave Franco as Lloyd Garmadon:The Green Ninja, leader of the Secret Ninja Force, Lord Garmadon and Koko's son and Master Wu's nephew. After the events of Lego Dimensions, Lloyd has matured as the leader of the team and has taken an interest in the legend of the Golden Ninja.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
*Michael Pena as Kai: he hotheaded red Ninja of Fire and Nya's brother. He has been at odds due to the disturbance of Overlord's supposed evil.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
*Abbi Jacobson as Nya:Is the grey/blue ninja, Elemental Master of Water and the original Samurai X. Though she can sometimes be stubborn, Nya cares about her friends and family, often making the most mature decisions of the group and serving as emotional support.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
*Fred Armisen as Cole: the laid-back music-loving black Ninja of Earth.
*Kumail Nanjiani as Jay: is the blue ninja and Elemental Master of Lightning. He frequently wields nunchucks and more recently, a kusarigama.
*Zach Woods as Zane: Is the white/titanium ninja and Elemental Master of Ice.Polo, Susana; Patches, Matt; Goslin, Austen (November 10, 2022). "Fred Armisen in Ninjago 2: is now one most important characters". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
*Kumail Nanjiani as Jay: is the blue ninja and Elemental Master of Lightning. He frequently wields nunchucks and more recently, a kusarigama.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
*Zach Woods as Zane: Is the white/titanium ninja and Elemental Master of Ice. Though he is still logical and matter-of-fact by nature, his brotherhood with the other ninja has enabled him to develop more human characteristics.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
*Scott McNeil as Overlord:The source of Ninjago's evil he commands an army of Stone.Polo, Susana; Patches, Matt; Goslin, Austen (November 10, 2022). "Fred Armisen in Ninjago 2: is now one most important characters". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022. Galuppo, Mia (October 17, 2022). "Scott McNeil Joining 'Ninjago 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
*Jackie Chan as Master Wu: The wisecracking leader of the group, Lord Garmadon's brother and Lloyd's uncle.Panaligan, EJ (September 10, 2022). "After 'Lego Dimensions' New 'Ninjago' movie Recruits Dave Franco, Olivia Munny, and Michael Pena and More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
Justin Theroux and Olivia Munn reprise their respective roles as Lloyd's father Lord Garmadon and mother Misako. Additionally, Lee Tockar, Ian James Corlett and Tabitha St. Germain have been cast in undisclosed roles.
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==Production==
===Development===
During the production of Lego Ninjago (2018), director Charlie Bean expressed interest in a sequel to the film and had already come up with a creative idea. Producer Dan Lin said this was a possibility based on the success of Lego Ninjago, however Warner Bros. rejected the initial idea and Bean was no longer interested in directing in 2020. In August 2018, Dave Franco expressed his enthusiasm for reprise his role as Lloyd Garmadon in an upcoming film in the franchise.
Development of another film based on the line began in mid-2021, following the announcement that the characters featured would appear in Lego Dimensions (2022). Some outlets felt the characters would appear based on minor participation, but executive producer Dan Lin said the team was never considered for the project because they would "bring more diversity to the story and cast of characters" and distance themselves from other aspects of the film. the franchise. Head writer Erick Sommers felt there was "a lot of talk" surrounding a possible sequel. In May 2022, Josh Cooley was tasked with writing first drafts for Ninjago, drawing from treatments by Charlie Bean, with Dan Lin and Roy Lee producing. Development on the film accelerated following the critical and commercial success of Lego Dimensions and Kirk DeMicco was hired to direct in February 2023, after a pitch that "wowed" executives. At the time, the studio had been in contact with the actors to discuss their availability to reprise their roles in the film. The film was officially announced in July 2023 at the San Diego Comic-Con, with a release date of February 6, 2026. Commentators suggested that the film could be based directly on the Ninjago TV series, as opposed to the previous film.
===Pre-production===
In September 2022, Deadline Hollywood's Justin Kroll said that Dave Franco, Abbi Jacobson and Michael Pena were already set to reprise their roles as cast members. Cooley confirms that the film would be loosely based on the second season of the TV show, featuring the main antagonist The Overlord. On April 1, 2023, Kumail Nanjiani, Olivia Munn, Zach Woods, Fred Armisen, Justin Theroux were also set to star, all reprising their roles from previous projects in the franchise. Arminsen said that the film would be fairly faithful to the source material, describing the main cast as "a family group, of childrens learning from themselves to live up to the heroes that they are in a real fight." At the end of the month, Above the Line's Jeff Sneider reported that Scott McNeil had been cast as the main villain. Jackie Chan's involvement as Master Wu was established soon after. Animal Logic maintained in January 2023 that they would lend the animation to the film and Ian James Corlett was cast in an undisclosed role, while Lee Tockar was cast the following month for a major role in Ninjago and potentially future films in the franchise.
In March 2023, DeMicco revealed that he was working very closely with Cooley on the film's script, he noted that there were "a lot of exciting themes and things" about the film that drew him to the project, noting that with Ninjago he has different writing needs given the "great scope and scale". The film has multiple high fantasy elements and is inspired by parts of Lord of the Rings and Games of Thrones (2011-19 TV series).
===Production===
Production, entrusted to the Animal Logic studio, is scheduled to begin on April 15, 2024, under the working title Wall Mission, at studios in Australia. The script was delivered to the studio in late October 2023 following rewrites.
==Release==
Ninjago is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on February 6, 2026.Vary, Adam B. (July 23, 2023). "San Diego Comic-Con: Everything We Learned at Comic-Con About the new 6 LEGO Movies". Variety. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
==References==
Category:2026 films
Category:2020s American animated films
Category:English-language films
Category:2020s children's animated films
Category:2026 animated films
Category:2026 3D films
Category:2026 computer-animated films
Category:2026 fantasy films
Category:Fantasy films
Category:American comedy adventure films
Category:Warner Bros. films
Category:Warner Animation Group films
Category:Lego films
Category:Films directed by Kirk DeMicco