News| Feb 16, 2017

The NSW screen production industry is celebrating this month with Warner Bros. Pictures; Warner Animation Group, LEGO System A/S, DC Entertainment and award-winning Australian design, animation and VFX company, Animal Logic’s second LEGO® franchise film taking number one at the US and UK box offices. The LEGO Batman Movie, delivered an estimated US$55.6 million with audiences giving the film a strong ‘A’ – CinemaScore.

In the UK The LEGO Batman Movie took £7.91m including £2.45m in previews, topping the UK box-office chart. To date, the film has taken an estimated $37 million from 60 overseas markets for a combined, US$92.6 million worldwide opening.  Created and filmed in NSW, The LEGO Batman Movie showcases Australia’s innovative and creative talent on the world stage.  Other Ausfilm members who contributed their services, talent and facilities on this film include Big Bang Sound Design, Showfilm, Trackdown and Warner Bros. Feature Productions P/L.

Sydney’s Animal Logic studios are currently busy shooting Peter Rabbit with Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Spy, Damages, X-Men Apocalypse), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) and the voice of James Corden (The Late Late Show).

The NSW industry is also celebrating BAFTA wins with NSW-made Hacksaw Ridge taking one award with acclaimed editor John Gibert’s BAFTA Award win for Best Editing, and also celebrating NSW screenwriter, Luke Davies, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion.

Luke Davies is also nominated for an Academy Award for Lion. Luke, currently LA-based, is an in-demand scriptwriter, with his new film Beautiful Boy, and intense addiction drama, produced by Brad Pitt and starring Steve Carell, set to shoot in six weeks. He is also working on a television adaptation of Catch 22, with Australian Animal Kingdom director David Michod, for the producers of True Detective.

Image: Copyright: © 2017 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND RATPAC-DUNE ENTERTAINMENT LLC