With the success of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, movie studios are looking for the next toy they can turn into the next huge big screen franchise. Problem is, most of the good properties have already been snatched up, and we’re beginning to see Hollywood scraping the bottom of the barrel, acquiring the rights to board games and toys from yesteryear that either lack any recognizable narrative (ie Stretch Armstrong, Viewfinder) or no longer have name recognition from today’s kids.

I’ve become much less cynical about the whole process. When I learned today that Warner Bros is developing a film based on LEGO building blocks, my first thought was: hey, at least everyone knows what Lego is.

But what kind of story could be created using the toy building blocks? Most of the popular LEGO properties today involved other licensed properties. For example the video games and toy lines for Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones and the video game Lego Rock Band (which I’m still trying to understand… what’s the purpose of the Lego involvement on that one?).

Screenwriters Dan and Kevin Hageman (no produced credits) are currently working on the script, but the plot is being kept under wraps (they must be worried that MEGA Blocks will steal the concept). All we know at this time is that the film will involve mix of live action and animation. I could maybe imagine a Toy Story type of deal, where the Lego men are actually alive, but only when humans aren’t watching. Their abilities, of course, would be building structures, vehicles and weapons out of the Lego bricks. That is the only logical concept, right? The tyos must fight other toys, save one of the kidnapped or missing toys, or escape (thats the three basic stories, right?).

Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes, Terminator Salvation) will produce the movie through his Lin Pictures shingle, along with Roy Lee and Doug Davison, who will produce through their Vertigo banner.

source: Variety