Rob Schrab replaced Chris McKay as director of The Lego Movie 2 before Mike Mitchell took over.
The sequel’s development went through several directorial changes. Chris McKay, who had co-directed and supervised animation on The Lego Movie, was initially attached to direct the follow-up. In February 2015, Rob Schrab replaced him. Schrab later departed, and Mike Mitchell became director in February 2017, reportedly amid creative differences.
Schrab is known for his work in television and comedy, including directing episodes of Community and producing and directing other genre-comedy projects. His version of the sequel did not become the released film, but his place in the production history explains why some early reports list a different director from the one credited onscreen.
Mike Mitchell ultimately directed the 2019 film, while Phil Lord and Christopher Miller returned as writers and story contributors. The finished movie follows Emmet, Lucy, Batman, and their friends into the Systar System after the arrival of General Sweet Mayhem. The sequence matters because Chris McKay and Rob Schrab are both connected to the sequel’s development, but neither directed the final theatrical version.