A couple of weeks before opened earlier this year, producer Dan Lin professed to being a tad nervous. Sure, the early buzz was hugely positive, and everyone involved with the project figured they had a solid production on their hands. "But still," thought Lin, "you never know."
He needn't have worried. The animated adventure comedy has become a global phenomenon and earned US$460 million in worldwide ticket sales.
For the Taipei-born Lin, it wasn't just the financial success of the film that was satisfying. "At a time when there is so much conflict in the world, people loved seeing a movie that was joyful and that celebrated imagination," he says. Lin has received notes from parents telling him that their kids have been inspired by the movie to play with Lego again.
A sequel was quickly announced. Scheduled for release in 2017, it will be directed by Chris McKay, the animation co-director on the first film. Lin is co-producing with the first 's writer-directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
"I know we've worn out the word 'awesome'," he says. "But that's really what happened here. The movie became part of the zeitgeist. We knew that for sure when the theatres were full at night, long after kids had gone to bed, because it wasn't just a kid's movie."
Lin is now one of Hollywood's busiest and most sought-after producers. Related by marriage to well-known musician brothers Stanley and Jeff Huang, who have now diversified into acting in Chinese films, Lin is working on potential collaborations with them. The producer's interest in John Woo movies compelled him to develop , and he is currently working on an adaptation of Steven King's to be directed by Cary Fukunaga.
Lin is now branching out into US-China co-productions, capitalising on his position as the only Chinese-speaking producer in Hollywood making big films. "I'm looking at movies that can appeal to different regions," he says. "Coming from Taiwan, but having my Western background, I want to be able to make movies that cross boundaries. Family films, action films - those all play well in Asia."
