Lego Ninjago Movie: Hageman Brothers Return to Build New Big-Screen Adventure

Universal bets on bricks again — and Ninjago is leading the charge

Universal Pictures is putting serious muscle behind Lego at the movies, and the first big swing is a familiar one: Kevin and Dan Hageman are back to write a new Lego Ninjago movie. The brothers helped build Ninjago into a global kids’ juggernaut on television and also contributed to the 2017 feature. Now they’re returning to the realm they helped define, as Universal develops three Lego films to kick-start a fresh era for the brand in theaters.

Plot details? Locked up tight. Release date? Not yet. But the hire tells you where Universal wants to go: start with creators who know the DNA of the property and can speak to both kids discovering Ninjago and the older fans who grew up with it. The Hagemans spent years on the animated series that premiered on Cartoon Network more than a decade ago, then shifted to Netflix in later seasons. Across 15 seasons and specials, the core idea stayed the same: a crew of scrappy teenage heroes—Lloyd, Kai, Jay, Zane, Cole, and Nya—use elemental powers, mechs, and a lot of heart to keep Ninjago safe.

The 2017 big-screen outing introduced that world to moviegoers with a cast led by Dave Franco and an everything-is-brick visual style. The movie didn’t hit the heights of The Lego Movie or The Lego Batman Movie, but it kept Ninjago in the cultural mix and proved the concept could stretch to feature scale. Since then, the Lego film rights shifted from Warner Bros. to Universal, and the mandate is clear: refresh the formula, broaden the audience, and make the most of a brand that still moves serious toy shelves worldwide.

Universal’s strategy is wider than one title. The studio has multiple Lego projects spinning up, with filmmakers like Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish attached to different entries. Expect tonal variety across the slate—some hybrid or live-action flavors alongside animation—while the studio figures out which creative approach unlocks the next wave of Lego box office. Ninjago, with its built-in lore and a bench of fan-favorite villains, is a natural anchor for the plan.

What makes the Hagemans the right fit? Track record. Beyond Ninjago, the brothers co-created Star Trek: Prodigy, a kids-and-family series that blends accessibility with deeper sci-fi themes. That show built a passionate following for its character-first storytelling and clever world-building—traits that map neatly back onto Ninjago. If Universal wants heart, humor, and myth rolled into one, these are the guys who’ve already done it twice.

Here’s where things stand right now:

• Writers: Kevin and Dan Hageman are on the script.
• Studio: Universal Pictures, which is developing three Lego films.
• Format: Not confirmed publicly; the prior film was animated, and Ninjago’s visual identity leans that way.
• Plot and cast: Under wraps; no word yet on returning voices or new leads.
• Timeline: Early development; release date TBD.

Creative questions hang over this project in a good way. Do the Hagemans reboot the mythology for newcomers, or do they continue a thread fans already love? The original show covered a lot—Garmadon’s arc, the elemental powers, ancient threats, modern tech—so the writers have choices. A clean, cinematic standalone is possible. So is a story that nods to the series while standing on its own, the way many animated features handle long-running franchises.

There’s also the tone. The Lego films thrive on quick-cut comedy, meta jokes, and warm, sentimental beats. Ninjago adds martial-arts energy, mechs, dragons, and the lure of elemental powers. Where the 2017 movie leaned heavily into the father-son rift between Lloyd and Garmadon, a new film could widen the scope—more team dynamics, bigger stakes, fresh villains—while keeping the character-driven core that made the show work for so long.

The business context matters. Lego’s theatrical run started hot with The Lego Movie in 2014, then cooled by the time The Lego Movie 2 rolled around. Universal taking over the license signaled a reset: new partners, new tone, and room to experiment. In the years since, toy-based storytelling has had a moment (Barbie’s monster year changed boardroom math), and studios are rethinking how to adapt brands without feeling like a 100-minute commercial. The safest path is simple: hire storytellers who care about character first. That’s the Hagemans’ lane.

On the fan side, Ninjago never really went away. The original TV run wrapped its main arc a couple of years back, but the brand keeps spinning with fresh shows, new storylines, and steady toy waves. That means the movie doesn’t have to reintroduce the world from scratch. It can trust the audience to meet the story halfway—recognizing Lloyd’s leadership, Kai’s fire, Jay’s lightning wit, Zane’s calm logic, Cole’s strength, and Nya’s water mastery—then layering in a plot big enough to demand a theatrical canvas.

There are practical realities, too. Animation cycles are long. Even if scripts move quickly, a Ninjago feature is likely years out. Meanwhile, Universal’s other Lego titles could hit first, especially if a hybrid or live-action concept is further along. Still, planting the flag with the Hagemans tells fans where the center of gravity is. If Ninjago lands, it gives the broader Lego slate a tone and a standard to match.

Expect the usual production puzzle pieces to fall into place over the next year: a director announcement, a confirmed format, voice casting, and the first hints of story. Watch for whether the film aims at a clean PG family adventure or pushes into slightly older territory with more intense action—Ninjago can flex either way. Also keep an eye on the toy tie-ins. Big-screen Ninjago usually means new mechs, signature vehicles, and villains tailor-made for sets. That’s not a bad thing; it’s the brand’s rhythm, and when the story’s good, the synergy feels natural.

If you’re trying to guess the villains or arcs, it’s all speculation until the studio says more. Garmadon is the obvious magnet for attention, but Ninjago’s rogue’s gallery is deep enough to avoid repeating beats. A fresh big bad with ties to the elemental powers would give the team a cinematic-scale challenge without retreading the 2017 plot. And for fans hoping for team dynamics front and center, the Hagemans’ history suggests the film will find time for friendships, rivalries, and personal stakes amid the brick-built spectacle.

One more angle: tone management across the wider Lego universe. With filmmakers like Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins, and Joe Cornish in the mix on other projects, Universal seems comfortable letting each film speak with its own voice. That’s smart. The brand works best when each entry has a distinct flavor—Batman’s satire, the original Lego Movie’s anarchic heart, and Ninjago’s disciplined, elemental mythology—rather than one-size-fits-all. Variety keeps the whole slate from feeling like a template.

So the headline is simple: the Hageman brothers are back where they started, putting Ninjago back on the big screen as Universal rebuilds its Lego lineup. The pieces are on the table. Now it’s about how they snap together—who’s directing, what the story asks of the team, and how the film sets a tone for everything that follows. Fans have waited for a sign that Ninjago would get another theatrical shot. This is it.

What to watch next

- A director and animation studio announcement will hint at style and scale.

- Casting news will show whether familiar voices return or a new ensemble takes over.

- Teaser art or a logline will reveal if the story is a reboot, a soft continuation, or a standalone adventure.

- Updates on Universal’s other Lego projects will help map out how Ninjago fits into the broader slate—and when each film might land.