Lego Film Boss Jill Wilfert Reflects on Ten Years of ‘The Lego Movie,’ How ‘Barbie’ Changed the Toy-to-Film Landscape and What to Expect From Their Universal Deal
variety.comK.J. Yossman Despite “Barbie’s” recent box office domination, the history of toy-to-film franchises has not always been easy.
Often dismissed as a cash grab (“Battleship”) or popcorn fare (“G.I. Joe,” “Transformers”), turning toys into critically and commercially successful content is no skate in the park.
For Mattel and co, there was another toy that had to walk before “Barbie” could fly: Lego. Written and directed by Lord and Miller, “The Lego Movie” proved that movies based on toys could be so much more than a 90-minute commercial when it was released ten years ago.
Although snubbed at the Oscars (not even garnering a nomination for best animated film), the Warner Bros. pic — like its eventual successor “Barbie” — was a hit with both audiences and critics.
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