ROTTEN TOMATOES: Hasbro, Universal Roll Dice On Monopoly, Battleship, More

Hasbro, Universal Roll Dice On Monopoly, Battleship, More

Aren't you glad the strike's over?

by Jeff Giles | February 21, 2008

Last summer, we discussed the news that Hasbro intended to develop a number of its board games -- including Monopoly, supposedly to be directed by Ridley Scott -- into feature films. This week, that plan inched closer to reality.

Hasbro and Universal have released a joint statement announcing their new "six-year strategic partnership," which should bring "at least four" movies based on Hasbro properties to the big screen. The short list, apparently, includes Monopoly, Ouija, Battleship, Magic: The Gathering, Stretch Armstrong, and a new Clue. From the statement:

"This deal gives Universal access to some of the greatest brands in the world. Hasbro's portfolio of products has tremendous emotional resonance with children and adults. They offer an exciting opportunity for us to develop tentpole movies with built-in global brand awareness, which is a key component of our slate strategy. Universal's creativity and worldwide marketing and distribution strength make them the perfect partner. Today's Hasbro is so much more than a traditional toy and game company, and this partnership is a powerful example of how we are offering our consumers new ways to enjoy unique and immersive experiences with our brands."

So, betting pool time: How long do you think it'll take the Zuckers to start writing a script for the inevitable Board Game Movie spoof?

(1-20 of 58 posts) | Reply

whiskeyriver writes:
on Feb 21 2008 05:38 AM

Connect Four: The Movie!

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Feb 21 2008 05:56 AM

It's a waste of talent to have Ridley Scott doing a Monopoly movie. If anybody could make a good Monopoly movie, it would be Scott, but I wish he was directing more Fiction or better yet Science Fiction movies.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Feb 21 2008 06:05 AM

This is stupid.

They just made a deal with the writers so why not inject some good Ol fashion ORIGINALITY!

Like NEW franchises from new characters and stories.

Not some adaptations on video games or comics or books or board games (???!!!) or even remakes.

This is the best time for Hollywood to refresh itself and give us something new.

PLEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!

(Reply to this)

The Pin writes:
on Feb 21 2008 06:11 AM

Am I the only one who finds it morally repulsive to build a cinematic franchise for the sole purpose of selling a product? I mean, a motion picture to promote universal brand awareness? For a board game??? I realize that most movies intend to sell merchandise based on the movie for a profit, but come on. This is getting ridiculous.

(Reply to this)

agniyo writes:
on Feb 21 2008 06:14 AM

Wow, that's the first thing I thought, too:

Ooh, isn't this partnership a powerful example of how Hasbro is offering consumers new ways to enjoy unique and immersive experiences with their brands !!

I think it's an underestimated blight on society how retail marketing drives the quasi-intelligent who are thus employed a little bit insane. Even with all the obvious complaints, it's underestimated if you ask me.

Still, the idea of a Battleship movie cracks me up. It's hard to imagine that this is going to be anything but either twisted, or ridiculous.

(Reply to this)

agniyo writes:
on Feb 21 2008 06:28 AM

In reply to this comment (#1591093)
I agree, AstrOcreep!

James Burrows (creator of Taxi, and Cheers and more recent stuff which came along after I stopped watching network TV) made an interesting point about all this. He said in the early decades of television, there were few models of what TV should be, so TV creators derived their inspiration from other sources -- mainly, he thought, real life and literature.

Nowadays, he said (and this was a few years back -- I think it was on "Inside the Actor's studio) everybody in TV derives their inspiration from other TV shows.

I think the same thing roughly applies to movies.

Of course the other thing is that TV seems to be bouyed up right now by an influx of writers coming from the rash of MA Creative Writing programs that have developed in the past couple decades. There's some good writing in TV now, as far as I can see.

I don't know why the same thing hasn't helped Hollywood, except that maybe a) writers have the wrong idea about what a movie IS or b) the business-minded folk in the industry, who fancy themselves creative in their own right (and aren't really), exert too much dominion over the real artists.

My guess is this will eventually hurt them enough to amount to some kind of downfall, one day.

(Reply to this)

Jerry Bruckheimer writes:
on Feb 21 2008 06:37 AM

"Scene It!: The Movie"

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Feb 21 2008 07:36 AM

"b) the business-minded folk in the industry, who fancy themselves creative in their own right (and aren't really), exert too much dominion over the real artists."

I think this is much closer to the mark than a). Everyone knows somebody very creative. Everyone has a favorite author. You know there are tons of people out there capable of crafting very good screenplays. But the vast majority of what we see is watered down, commercialized crap like this. It's the bean counters.

(Reply to this)

bluestar2000 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:02 AM

Why don't they make Sorry? Or maybe Barrel of Monkeys? The possibletis are endless.

(Reply to this)

opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:10 AM

Yeah, the bottom line is what drives insane decisions such as this. The script is incidental as it applies to "making a movie" out of some sort of established "brand." While I cannot sit here and say the original Clue was a bad movie it is easy to imagine it as the game is fairly narrative just by being a murder mystery. I cannot wrap my head around what the EF a Monopoly movie would be about?! Would there be a bunch of rich tycoons racing each other to buy property? Will it be about a the business trials and tribulations experienced by a metal shoe and it's best friend, the metal thimble? Man, I miss good movies.

(Reply to this)

Kollikodon writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:12 AM

Risk anyone?

(Reply to this)

OperaGhost21 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:14 AM

Why does the idea of Larry David doing a movie based on Sorry seem like it could be gold?

(Reply to this)

Gimy writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:22 AM

you know what...this makes the whole "video game movies" genre look intelligent and creative. i'll give MAJOR props to anybody who writes a movie on monopoly that is not only ABOUT the thing(not just a Wall Street rip off) but is actually entertaining. other than filming numerous people PLAYING it(and the ending of "f3ck this, i quit!" that always ensues)...i don't see how this is going to be reality. what, you have four business tycoons buying businesses in real life? how is that Monopoly...thats just a regular movie. and Battleship? you could say Down Periscope...and U-571 were "Battleship" movies. and Ouija has already been made, i haven't a clue what it was called but i saw a movie when i was younger that had the exact same concept. this is just a lame attempt for people to sell something that isn't really there. call it a FAMILIAR name...but with no real concept and/or plot about the actual game

(Reply to this)

dgator783 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:36 AM

what? no hungery hungery hippos or Crossfire movie?

(Reply to this)

bluestar2000 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:41 AM

In reply to this comment (#1591552)
I think that Hollywood will try to pass off anything as entertainment nowadays.It's about time to hire new writers, that can type up a coherent screenplay, instead of one that's a remake, a sequel, prequel, or based on a tv show or video game.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Feb 21 2008 08:51 AM

Not for nothing, I really LIKED "Clue." ..and 'yes' I'm old enough to remember when it came out (yeesh). It was irreverent and funny and the cast clearly was having a good time making it. If they can have that same f#ck-everything-let's-have-some-fun attitude, then I say go for it.

I've said it before, I'll say it again as they say in politics, "It's the WRITING/DIRECTING, stupid." Source material is irrelevant. Make an entire movie about an old lady being driven around and if it's done well, you get an Academy Award ("Driving Ms. Daisy").

(Reply to this)

Dinobot77 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 09:04 AM

This announcement makes me want to create a top list of board game movies.

My top five!

1 ~ Hungry Hungry Hippos
2 ~ Operation
3 ~ Mouse Trap
4 ~ Risk
5 ~ I Vant to Bite Your Finger (The creepiest game known to man.)

Horable Mentions ~ Fireball Island, Barrel of Monkeys, Light Brite, and Connect Four

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Feb 21 2008 09:11 AM

Stratego, Parchesi, Life, snakes and ladders, Toc!, etc

Ooh, ooh, ooh!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS!

A$$es.

(Reply to this)

zsmiller79 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 10:00 AM

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T REMAKE CLUE!
Its one of my favorite moives and I think one of the best ensmble casts of all time. Tim Curry is hilarious I don't understand why he doesnt do more comedies. Im in love w/ Madeline Kahn!

(Reply to this)

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