‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ Asks “Can Batman Be Happy?”

Just yesterday we reported on an update from filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller regarding their script for ‘The LEGO Movie 2,’ who offered up some plot details for the coming sequel. Today brings another update from Lord and Miller—this time regarding the highly-anticipated spin-off ‘The LEGO Batman Movie,’ in which Will Arnett will reprise his role as everyone’s favorite brooding superhero. We kind of know what ‘The LEGO Movie 2' is about, but what will LEGO Batman's new spin-off be about?

Lord, Miller, and Arnett spoke with MTV News, and while they couldn’t really divulge specifics about ‘The LEGO Batman Movie,’ Lord did offer up a very excellent piece of info regarding the plot:

No spoilers. But I will say I think the movie is really exciting because it’s about ‘Can Batman be happy?’

Do we really need any more plot details? That idea is so brilliant on its own. Batman, particularly in his more contemporary iterations, is known for being kind of a downer. Sure, Bruce Wayne can turn on the charm when necessary, but Batman is out to thwart criminals and clean up the filthy streets of Gotham. Plus, he can’t get over the death of his parents, and he doesn’t have the best track record with women. He’s an overgrown, angst-ridden man-child, basically. He’s even a bit too preoccupied with gadgets and toys.

Arnett’s version of the character in ‘The LEGO Movie’ succinctly captured the essence of Batman, especially with the hilarious “Batman’s Song (Untitled Self Portrait),” which features lyrics about darkness and not having parents.

Batman fans have likely already wondered for years whether or not Batman can actually be happy, given his past as well as his alter ego’s pursuit of fighting crime, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for just hanging out and having a good time. Even in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, all the fun Bruce Wayne was having was just for show, to keep up appearances about his billionaire playboy lifestyle. Previously, we learned that the new ‘LEGO Batman Movie’ will also acknowledge every era of Batman’s film history, including the aforementioned Nolan years and probably even those pesky Bat-nipples from the Joel Schumacher era (how could they not?).

So, can Batman be happy? ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ will hopefully answer this question for us when it hits theaters on May 26, 2017.