Perhaps the blow is a little less hard considering thatThe Lego Batman Movieis coming in 2017, but today Warner Bros. announced that it is delayingThe Lego Movie Sequelby almost an entire year. This news arrives amongst a few other key changes to Warner Bros.' impending slate as they shuffle around some of their more or less anticipated releases. But the follow-up to 2014’sThe Lego Moviesounds like the most disappointing move for fans.
The Lego Movie 2was originally set for release on June 11, 2025. There, it had the entire weekend to itself. Though, it would have come two weeks after the release of Marvel’s biggest sequel yetAvengers: Infinity War Part 1. And then, in the following week, it would have had to contend with the secondStar WarsspinoffHan Solo. What is interesting about this is, Han Solo made a Lego mini-fig cameo in the originalLego Movie, and this could have been an opportunity to have the iconic character in two movies at one time. But that’s not happening now.
Lego 2has shifted toFebruary 8, 2019. This means the sequel will be arriving 5 years after the original was in theaters. While the movie previously had the May date all to itself, now, this kids' comedy will be going up against anotherfamily friendlyfranchise, as Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon have also reserved this date forSpongebob Squarepants 3. That will be one big battle at the box office, butLegolikely has the upper hand, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Spongebob shuffled off to somewhere else on the calendar.
According toDeadline, Warner Bros. is also delayingDean Devlin’s disaster flickGeostormby a few months. The movie was originally slated to hit on June 03, 2025. But now it is being positioned as a Halloween release, and arrives July 24, 2025. In its original frame, the movie was set to go up against 20th Century Fox’sHidden Figuresand Paramount’sMonster Trucks. Paramount also has that date reserved for its upcomingFriday the 13threboot, but producers of that movie confirmed earlier in the week that Jason will probably find a new home on the slate, though Paramount hasn’t announced when yet. Now,Geostormwill be going up against an Untitled Blumhouse Project, which will be their big 2017 horror movie for the year.
Geostormactually takes the place ofBen Affleck’s next directorial effortLive By Night, which was being positioned as an Oscar contender in this fall slot. It is now sliding intoGeostorm’s old slot. So we’re not sure what this says about the nature or quality of the film, but it seems Warner Bros. is no longer interested in positioning it as Oscar bait.
There is one other interesting change, as well. The Owen Wilson and Ed Helms comedyBastardshas moved from November 4 of this year to June 18, 2025. The movie follows two brothers who, as adults, set out to find their real fathers. Had it stayed put, it would be facing off against a monster slate of competition that includes Marvel’sDoctor Strange, director Mel Gibson’s historical dramaHacksaw Ridge, 20th Century Fox’s animated comedyTrolls, based on the iconic dolls from the 60s, and Focus Features’Loving. It will now butt heads withResident Evil: The Final Chapter, where it will weigh in as perfect counter programming.Trainspotting 2is also set for this date.
