Jayson & Friends: The Movie (2023 animated film)

Project Echo is a in-development movie, being worked on at Bluejay Animations. The film started development back in 2021, and has been in development since then, being changed and improved many times over. A official release date, is yet to be announced, though fans believe the film could release as early as October of 2023, and the latest being March 2024.

Backstory
Project Echo was started on April 20, 2021, after Bluejay Animations, gained the rights to use characters from The Lego Movie franchise. A large conference was held, several days later, to discus the severity of the project. Originally, fans speculated, that the film would be titled The Lego Movie 3: Where In The World Is Emmet? However, Jake Hensley, head of Bluejay Animations, and a director on the project, confirmed the film would not be a Lego movie sequel, but a mere spinoff/recreation of the universe. Originally, it was rumored, that several studios were on board to distribute the film, however, all rumors of several studios distributing the film, (Including Universal & even Sony) were brushed off. It was believed that Disney, originally had ties to the project, but on June 1, 2021, Jake Hensley announced that Disney was not taking over the project, and that they were only allowed to provide characters & universes. It was revealed in August, that Bluejay Animations, was working on a new distribution brand, to distribute the film fully. No new news was released in the fall of 2021, leaving many to speculate. A thread was started on September 30th 2021 on Reddit, as to weather the film was still releasing or not.

On December 1st, 2021, Jake Hensley released more information about the film, stating that because of a issue with budget & licensing, they could not get Chris Pratt to voice Emmet & Rex, and stated that they would be searching out new VAs for the movie. He also announced, that they were able to get the rights to use Batman in the film, however he wouldn't steal the spotlight, and would not be a main character, but a side character. It was also revealed, that Will Arnett (who voiced Batman in 3 previous Lego films) would also not return, due to being tied up with other projects at the time. Silence was made between late December and early January of 2022, but on February 2nd, 2022, Jake Hensley announced that it was possible, that Brock Baker could be voicing Batman, but he was unsure. On February 15, he confirmed, that Baker agreed to voice Batman, and that they were in talks with voice actors, to voice Emmet & Rex. Throughout the Spring, silence was made, and people started to believe, that once again, Project Echo was abandoned. However, they were once proven wrong, as on May 2nd, 2022, William McCray, a VA who had been in the buisness for many years, and was known for his soft, energetic voice, announced publicly, that he'd be voicing Emmet in Project Echo, and that a undisclosed VA would be voicing Rex. He also confirmed, that the film would be a "adventure, between 2 heroes and a broken villain, who no one could ever see changing, but the aforementioned villain, tries anyway".

A few days later, during a public appearance, at a convention, in Las Vegas, Edwin Johnson, confirmed, that he was asked to voice Rex, and he agreed, and told everyone, that he'd be trying to mimic Pratt's performance, as much as possible, while adding his own emotion, and heart to the character. Jake Hensley, who was also at the conference, announced they were also looking for Female VAs to voice Lucy & General Mayhem, since their voice actors, also couldn't return. A day later, Jake posted online, that Angelina Waters would be voicing Lucy, and that they were looking for someone who can yell with a high pitch voice, to do Mayhem. It was revealed also, that Dean Norman, would be voicing President Business, since Ferrell couldn't return. In August, Johnson stated, that he had decided to step down from voicing Rex, due to Hensley wanting a younger actor, to voice Rex, to match with Maisy Lee, who would be voicing Mayhem. Johnson confirmed, his son Ryan would take over as Rex, due to having a good light deep voice, and also being the same age as Lee. It was revealed that Charlie Day & Ed Helms were tied to the project, with Day voicing Benny, and Helms voicing a new character, who was still in development. A rumor started, that Bill Murray, would be in the film, as Lucy's dad, however this was shot down by Hensley, who said that Murray was considered, but was too busy to appear. Hensley also revealed on the same day, that Zachary Levi, would be voicing Benny's brother, Lenny. A few days later, it was revealed by actor William Dafoe, that he would be voicing Lucy's dad, who would make a appearance as a side character, and a important part of the plot. For the rest of Spring, more silence was given, and in December of 2022, 4 voice actors (Matthew Lillard, Addison Holley, John Goodman, & Matthew Broderick) were all announced to be working as voice actors on the film. In 2023, Jake confirmed that the film was moving along well, and that a official name, would be revealed soon, alongside some plot details. Another rumor started, in March of 2023, that Hensley was talking with several actors, including Jim Pirri, Alexander Meyers, & Steve Blum about possibly being in the film. Hensley confirmed, that both Pirri & Meyers would be in the movie, but ruled out Blum, saying that he never considered Blum for the film.

Snyopsis
After believing he wasn't tough enough, for Lucy, after her dad calls him a "weakling" Emmet, alongside his future self, Rex Dangervest, run off on a "bro-venture" and end up crash landing, on the Toon Planet, and must learn to avoid being noticed, by the townsfolk, who love Emmet, but hate Rex, and must try to survive, and not get in trouble, with the leader of the Toon Planet, Emperor William.

Cast

 * William McCray as Emmet Brickowski
 * Ryan Johnson as Rex Dangervest
 * Angelina Waters as Lucy/Wyldstyle
 * Maisy Lee as General Sweet Mayhem
 * Brock Baker as Batman
 * Dean Norman as President Business
 * Alexander Meyers as Emperor William
 * Charlie Day as Benny
 * Zachary Levi as Lenny
 * William Dafoe as Lucy's dad
 * Matthew Lillard as TBA
 * Addison Holley as TBA
 * John Goodman as TBA
 * Matthew Broderick as TBA
 * Ed Helms as TBA
 * Jim Pirri as TBA