MUMBAI: Building a strong slate of animated tentpoles that extends well into 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures has announced the release dates of three much-anticipated Lego movies. 

The next Lego film to open will be the as-yet-untitled Lego Batman feature, which will come to theatres earlier than planned, with the global launch starting in North America on 10 February, 2017.

The second movie Ninjago, which had been slated for release in fall 2016; will now release on 22 September, 2017 in the North American market, with international dates to follow. The release has been pushed as the film is still under construction.

The Lego Movie Sequel, the follow-up to The Lego Movie, will open one week earlier than originally slated, on 18 May, 2018 in North America.

Warner Bros. Pictures president, domestic distribution Dan Fellman said, “We are very excited about dating our upcoming Lego animated features, which already have a worldwide fan following, built on the foundation of the first film. These three films already in the pipeline are just the beginning of a creative and diverse animation slate that will be delighting audiences for years to come.”

Warner Bros. Pictures president, international distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg added, “We are looking forward to expanding the Lego film franchise globally with these three incredibly imaginative movies, each offering something different to appeal to a broad range of audiences around the world.”

The Lego Group vice president of licensing and entertainment Jill Wilfert said, “We are so pleased to continue our creative partnership with Warner Bros. on these upcoming projects. It’s truly amazing to see how the big screen lends another dimension to the rich Lego world, and offers new ways for fans to be engaged and entertained by these characters.”