After The LEGO Movie became one of the most surprising critical and commercial hits of 2014, Warner Bros. knew they had a mega animated franchise on their hands. In the vein of the now typical shared universe model, the studio is developing multiple spinoffs of the brand, in addition to a traditional sequel that's due in 2019. The next installment of the LEGO cinematic universe is The LEGO Batman Movie, which sees Will Arnett's scene-stealing version of the Caped Crusader take center stage. Directed by Chris McKay, the film has assembled an A-list supporting cast, with Zach Galifianakis, Ralph Fiennes, Rosario Dawson, Michael Cera, and Mariah Carey all on board to play key members of the Batman mythos.

WB has so far put together a cool marketing campaign for the project, which has been highlighted by multiple trailers that highlight the film's sense of fun and irreverent humor (sticking close to the tone of the first LEGO Movie). There have also been a number of still images released highlighting the new characters, such as the Joker (Galifianakis) and Robin (Cera). Now, a new picture of the Dark Knight himself has been unveiled, showing off the hero's impressive collection of vehicles.

Coming courtesy of Collider, the photo depicts LEGO Batman standing in his beloved Batcave, with his rides in the background. Though they're largely out of focus, fans can see that old standards like the Batmobile and Batplane are included, as well as some more amusing ones like what appears to be a tugboat. You can see the image below:

LEGO Batman Movie Vehicles image

Based on the footage shown so far, The LEGO Batman Movie should have some exciting and inventive set pieces, so it will be interesting to see how these vehicles factor in. Of course, some of these are just for show (and to make a joke about how one can never have too many Bat-rides), but odds are Batman will have to make use of a couple of them to save Gotham City again. His arsenal of gadgets and vehicles have become a staple of the live-action iterations, and most of those films made sure to give at least one a moment in the spotlight. It would be a shame if the animated version (where just about anything is possible) didn't incorporate the Batmobile in a fresh and entertaining way.

At this point in time, there's little reason to doubt that The LEGO Batman Movie can't be another successful entry in the burgeoning franchise. The Dark Knight is as popular as ever during the Golden Age of the superhero movie, and this looks like a wild ride that should be a massive treat for fans to watch - and provide valuable lessons about teamwork along the way. With the DC Extended Universe leaning closer to the darker side of the spectrum in regards to its portrayal of the character, something with a more humorous twist that's family friendly should be appreciated and give viewers another iteration of Batman to fall in love with.

Source: Collider

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