Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller made the jump to live-action with 2012’s ridiculously funny 21 Jump Street, but the duo previously made a name for themselves in the world of animation.  Their feature film debut, 2009’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, is a fantastic blend of absurd humor and genuine heart, and for their 21 Jump Street follow-up Lord and Miller are heading back into animation with The Lego Movie.  The film takes place in the world of Legos and boasts an impressive voice cast that includes Chris Pratt, Nick Offerman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, and Morgan Freeman.

Steve recently spoke with Offerman at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for his upcoming film Toy’s House, and the actor took a moment to talk about his voice work in The Lego Movie.  He revealed that he voices a pirate character named Metalbeard, compared the film’s sensibility and universal themes to The Wizard of Oz, and said that the story’s “beautiful message” is what attracted him to the project the most.  Hit the jump for more.

Offerman began by talking a bit about his character:

“I believe I am playing a pirate named Metalbeard who was blown up by the bad guys and he sort of cobbled his body back together out of like random Lego piratical parts.  So he’s sort of this weird malformed pirate.”

Given how funny Lord and Miller’s previous work has been, Steve asked if the script for The Lego Movie is as humorous as we’re hoping for.  Though Offerman admitted that the film is indeed funny, it was the pic’s heart that spoke to him the most:

“It’s full of hilarity, but the thing I love the most about this script is it has a really beautiful message.  As you can imagine, it’s sort of primarily aimed at kids, but it’s the kind of film that is so universal.  It’s like Willy Wonka or The Wizard of Oz where I think everyone’s just gonna love it.  The funny stuff is insanely funny, and if you just look at the cast you know that we’re in for a treat, but it has a really beautiful message that I find really touching and that’s what attracted me to it the most.”

Watch the portion of the interview concerning Lego below, followed by a transcript.  Look for Steve’s full interview with Offerman from Sundance soon.  The Lego Movie opens in theaters on February 7, 2014.

Steve: I believe you’re doing a voice in The Lego Movie.

Nick Offerman: That is the case, yes. 

You might even be playing a pirate.

Offerman: I believe I am playing a pirate named Metalbeard who was blown up by the bad guys and he sort of cobbled his body back together out of like random Lego piratical parts.  So he’s sort of this weird malformed pirate.

I don’t know much about the movie and I know you’re not supposed to talk too much about the movie, but I assume you’ve read the script already.  These filmmakers are really, really great.  Was it a laugh out loud script when you first got it?

Offerman: It’s full of hilarity, but the thing I love the most about this script is it has a really beautiful message.  As you can imagine, it’s sort of primarily aimed at kids, but it’s the kind of film that is so universal, it’s like Willy Wonka or The Wizard of Oz where I think everyone’s just gonna love it.  The funny stuff is insanely funny, and if you just look at the cast you know that we’re in for a treat, but it has a really beautiful message that I find really touching and that’s what attracted me to it the most.

For more on the LEGO movie, here's our previous coverage.