The LEGO Movie director Chris Miller said he doesn't want his movie to be blamed for the newly announced Rubik's Cube film. Co-directed with longtime creative partner Phil Lord, The LEGO Movie was released in 2014 and marked Lord and Miller's third animated feature film. It was seen as a risky endeavor at the time, even by the filmmakers themselves, as the directing duo acknowledged it would be difficult to make a movie about the titular line of construction toys without coming across as a commercial. The film ended up being an enormous critical and commercial hit, earning $468 million at the global box office and launching a franchise that includes a sequel and two spinoffs. Now, another iconic toy will be the focus of a feature film hoping to capitalize on the recent trend of successful movies centered around bestselling toys.
That toy is the Rubik's Cube, the combination puzzle invented over 40 years ago that's sold more than 450 million units worldwide. A Rubik's Cube movie was announced to be in development from Endeavor Content and Hyde Park Entertainment Group, the same production company behind such blockbusters as Premonition and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Details surrounding the film are scant right now, but many were eager to voice their opinions about the seemingly strange idea for a movie, including Miller himself.
Chris Miller tweeted that he hopes The LEGO Movie isn't ultimately blamed for the announcement of a Rubik's Cube film. Though Miller noted it's certainly possible to make a good movie about just about anything, as demonstrated when he launched a hit franchise about inanimate blocks, he also warned that it doesn't necessarily mean those movies should be made. Here's what the director had to say about the announcement:
"1) it is theoretically possible to make a good movie based on almost anything
2) Doesn’t mean you should
3) Let’s not blame The Lego Movie for this, pretty please"
Lord and Miller have gradually moved away from The LEGO Movie franchise following the box-office disappointment of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. In addition to producing the upcoming sequel to their Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the duo is keeping busy on several newly announced projects signaling a shift into more mature material. For instance, Lord and Miller signed on in May to direct Ryan Gosling in an untitled astronaut movie, based on the new novel from The Martian author Andy Weir.
The success of seemingly risky movie ideas often relies heavily on whoever's sitting in the director's chair, a fact that will only grow more apparent as more questionable movies about toys get announced. The idea of a live-action Barbie movie seemed ridiculous until it was announced that Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, who directed the acclaimed 2019 films Little Women and Marriage Story, signed on as co-writers for the Margot Robbie-led project. If the Rubik's Cube movie is lucky enough to land a strong director and enthusiastic cast, there's a good chance it could end up mirroring the surprise critical and commercial success of The LEGO Movie.
Source: Chris Miller/Twitter