The Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller have re-written the script and brought in Robot Chicken‘s Chris McKay to direct. That, and the animation house behind the Happy Feet films, Animal Logic, has been hired to create the world comprised of Legos. Casting will begin in January for the film which will be roughly 80% animation and 20% live action. What a relief to the animators that they’re not going the stop-motion route. It can sometimes be a pain in the ass to separate those bricks, even with the help of a butter knife. (Empire)

Silly haircuts? Check. Drug humor? Check. John Woo-style gun ballet? Check. Give the trailer a watch. I’m really looking forward to seeing more. The only part that made me sad was when Ice Cube acknowledged Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and the Twittersphere. Hopefully at some point in the movie he’ll wield an AK.

Dakota Johnson, the hot girl who didn’t realize she slept with the Napster guy in The Social Network, has been cast in three movies:

- She’s currently filming Goats, which is directed by Christopher Neil and stars David Duchovny. It’s about a teen from Tuscon who leaves home to go to an East Coast prep school. Johnson will play: some character.

- From there, Johnson will act in Five Year Engagement, which is directed by Nicholas Stoller, produced by Judd Apatow and stars Jason Segel. It’s about a newlywed couple who go through ups and downs. Johnson will play: one of the characters in the movie.

- Finally, Johnson will join the cast of 21 Jump Street, which is directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and stars Jonah Hill. It’s about young-looking cops who go undercover as teens, in a remake of the 80s TV drama. Johnson will play: a girl rock star who gets recruited by Secret NASA to fight aliens. Okay, ya got me. She’s playing some other kind of character entirely. (Variety)

Riggle joins 21 Jump Street, what’s sure to be a faithfully dramatic movie version of the old Johnny Depp TV show, where undercover cops pose as teenagers in high school. He’ll play the main villain in a cast that includes Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube. 21 Jump Street will be directed by the same guys who brought us Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. So again, anticipate some Oscar-worthy drama here.

Columbia Pictures is distributing. (Variety)

Mr. Cube is in talks to be part of 21 Jump Street, based on the old Johnny Depp show that made him a dreamy teen idol, much to his emo-embarrassment. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) want him to play the precinct captain, cast alongside Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. I kinda wish they’d ask him to play one of the undercove high school officers, cause he’s 41 and that would be very, very ridiculous.

In addition, Ice Cube is shopping around a movie he wrote, and would like to direct / star in. Will he also run craft services on Chrome and Paint, a gritty drama about South LA’s custom car culture? Probably not, but it’d be funny if Ice Cube didn’t trust anyone else to make potato salad, so he made it himself. Who would stop him? Hell, I wouldn’t even mess with the family friendly Ice Cube. (Deadline)

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller have lined up their post-21 Jump Street gig. In keeping with Hollywood’s recent obsession with all things musical, the duo will direct Bob The Musical after they finish planting drugs in Jonah Hill’s locker.

Bob The Musical tells the story of a man who hits his head and can hear the inner songs of people’s hearts. Thus, turning the world around him into a musical. The project has passed through many hands over the last five-plus years. Some good, some terrible, but I can’t agree more with Lord and Miller on board. This could be the best musical since South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. Especially if there is a scene with Juggalos. PLEASE let there be a scene with Juggalos. (THR)

Channing Tatum is steppin’ up 2 da 21 Jump Street. The actor is in talks to don Silly Bandz and return to high school to totally narco on the student body with Jonah Hill. Before you groan and throw your body to the supermarket floor in protest and force me to drag you out by your leg, just know that this could be a good thing. There’s a lot of ver funny people calling the shots on this film and Tatum sounds like a casting choice that could work. “Clone High” creators Phil Lord and Chris Miller (who also brought us Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) are to be rooted behind the director’s monitor, Hill scripted, and Emma Stone is rumored to be a part of the project. And everyone likes Emma Stone. She’s like sugar to us.

The film itself is said to be a blend of comedy and Bad Boys-style action, based around the concept that these cops look too young to be effective as cops. I’m not saying that Channing Tatum is the perfect choice for this (I’d be more interested in seeing Chris Pine in the role), but we could do a lot worse. How? Zac Efron and Keenan Thompson. So count your blessings and get up off the floor. You’re embarrassing me and people are trying to get through with their carriages. (HitFix)

The director’s chair left vacant by David O. Russell on Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is being retro-fitted for a few more asses. Jonathan Demme, Matt Reeves, the Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs guys, and Mike White joined previously announced asses David Slade, Neil Marshall, and Mike Newell for a shot at plunking down for some on-set bad back support.

As with everything nowadays, the casting list is also uncertain now that Natalie Portman has walked from the starring role. Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasoshoushawkasa, Tilda Swinton, and Catherine O’Hara are all rumored for the project. It’s impressive that so many big names (and Mike White) are interested in the project. I’m sure it will end up in good hands (or Mike White’s). (The Wrap)

Warner Bros. is putting together a writing/directing team for a film based on the popular children’s toy, Legos, Coming Soon is reporting. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the duo behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, have been tasked with bringing the building blocks to life.

Although few details have emerged, the film is being described as an "action adventure set in a LEGO world." While some might decry the idea as yet another example of Hollywood running out of original ideas, I, for one, welcome the Lego movie. It brings my childhood dream of seeing Connect Four on the big screen one step closer.

Warner Bros. is putting together a writing/directing team for a film based on the popular children’s toy, Legos, Coming Soon is reporting. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the duo behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, have been tasked with bringing the building blocks to life.

Although few details have emerged, the film is being described as an "action adventure set in a LEGO world." While some might decry the idea as yet another example of Hollywood running out of original ideas, I, for one, welcome the idea of a Lego movie. It brings my childhood dream of seeing Connect Four on the big screen one step closer.