Warner Bros. is building a new franchise of its own, beginning with this weekend's animated release The LEGO Movie.

TheWrap reports the studio has already hired writers to pen a sequel, days before the the first film  arrives in theaters. Directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord co-wrote the first LEGO Movie, but Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan are now penning the follow-up.

The news comes amid glowing reviews and a strong likelihood of earning a first place finish at the box office this weekend, with TheWrap projecting upward of $40 million.

The LEGO Movie, in theaters this weekend, features the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Morgan Freeman, among others.