- "Barbie" opened the floodgates for more movies inspired by toys and games.
- On Wednesday, Variety reported that Margot Robbie, who produced and starred in "Barbie," is making a movie based on Monopoly.
- Mattel is also turning its toy chest into a movie universe. Read more here.
Following her box office success with "Barbie," Margot Robbie has returned to the toy box for more inspiration, this time turning Monopoly into a movie.
On Wednesday, Variety reported that Robbie is producing a live-action film based on the family board game. She is partnering with Lionsgate and Hasbro, the owners of Monopoly's intellectual property.
A representative for Luckychap, the production company Robbie runs with her business partners Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, told Variety in a statement: "Monopoly is a top property — pun fully intended. Like all of the best IP, this game has resonated worldwide for generations, and we are so excited to bring this game to life alongside the wonderful teams involved at Lionsgate and Hasbro."
A representative for Business Insider did not respond to a comment request from Business Insider.
Robbie has already succeeded at creating a film with a toy company after producing and starring in "Barbie" last year. The film received critical acclaim, won one Oscar, and grossed $1.4 billion at the global box office.
2023 in general was a big year for movies based on toys and games, with new adaptations of "Transformers" and "Dungeons and Dragons," and even a biopic about the creation of Beanie Babies released.
The success of "Barbie" emboldened Mattel and other companies to develop even more films about toy brands, from Hot Wheels to American Girl dolls.
Here is what you need to know about the toy brands that are getting the movie treatment.
Monopoly
For almost two decades, filmmakers have been trying to turn the hugely popular Monopoly into a movie. In 2015, CNN reported that the Hasbro game had been translated into 47 languages, played in 114 countries sold over 275 million copies.
A Monopoly movie was first mooted by Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott during an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2007. The director said he thought the game would produce "a hysterically amusing and I think rather exciting film."
In 2009, producer Frank Beddor came up with an interesting pitch for a Monopoly movie, which he told IGN that Scott was excited about.
Beddor described the idea as a "comedic action-adventure" about a "lovable loser" who has to battle "the evil Parker Brothers" in a game of real-life Monopoly.
The film never made it to the big screen and instead, another film was developed through a partnership between Lionsgate and Hasbro in 2015, with "The Truman Show" writer Andrew Niccol attached. The movie ended up not happening.
In 2019, Deadline reported that Kevin Hart would star in a Monopoly movie directed by "The Blackening" director Tim Story, though no plot details or filming dates have been revealed since then.
When Lionsgate acquired Entertainment One's TV and film operations from Hasbro in 2023, it seemed a Monopoly movie was their top priority.
"We look forward to partnering with them, especially on a movie adaptation of Monopoly," Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks said of the sale in a statement to Variety in August 2023.
On Wednesday, during 2024's Cinemacon in Las Vegas, Lionsgate confirmed that a Monopoly movie is in development.
Play-Doh
In 2022, Deadline and Variety reported that the putty-like children's toy will be the focus of an upcoming movie.
The publications reported that the film will be an animated story written by Emily V. Gordon ("The Big Sick"), and produced by Jon M. Chu (who directed "Crazy Rich Asians" and "In The Heights").
Action Man
Action Man was the UK's answer to the G.I. Joe action figures and the brand was later acquired by Hasbro.
In 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that Hasbro had signed a deal with independent production company Emmett/Furla Films to make films based on Hungry Hungry Hippos, Monopoly, and Action Man.
In 2018, it was Deadline reported that James Bobin ("The Muppets") had been tapped to direct, and Simon Farnaby ("Paddington 2") was hired to write the script. The film is to be produced by Paramount Players, a division of Paramount Pictures
Beyblade
Beyblade has been turned in various animated series but now a live-action movie is in the works.
In 2015, Deadline first reported that the rights to the spinning-top toys had been acquired by Paramount Pictures.
There were no further updates until February 2022, when Deadline reported that Jerry Bruckheimer ("Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Bad Boys") will produce the movie, with Neil Widener and Gavin James signed on to write the script.
Transformers
Hasbro and Paramount have been partnering on the live-action "Transformers" series since 2007, with the latest adaptation, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," hitting theaters this past summer.
Numerous "Transformers" spinoffs and sequels are also in the works.
In 2020, Deadline reported that Paramount and Hasbro had partnered together to produce an animated prequel movie that takes place on Cybertron and explains the origins of fan-favorite characters Optimus Prime and Megatron.
"Toy Story 4" director Josh Cooley was hired to direct the film written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari.
The movie is set to premiere on September 13, 2024, and stars Chris Hemsworth (as Optimus), Brian Tyree Henry (as Megatron), Jon Hamm (as Sentinel Prime), Keegan-Michael Key (as Bumblebee), Laurence Fishburne (as Alpha Trion), and Scarlet Johansson (as Elita).
In 2022, Paramount announced that "Rise of the Beasts" will be the first of a new trilogy, which means that at least two more live-action "Transformers" movies are in development.
At the end of the 2023 movie "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," a crossover between the "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" franchises was also teased.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told Radio Times in June 2023 that instead of having a separate crossover film, "some G.I. Joe characters" will appear in "Transformers 8," along with the Autobots and the Maximals.
In 2021, multipe outlets reported that Angel Manuel Soto ("Blue Beetle") has signed on to direct a standalone "Transformers" movie, with Marco Ramirez ("The Defenders") writing the script. No further details have emerged since.
Clue
1985's "Clue" was the first movie release inspired by a board game, and Ryan Reynolds is eyeing a new adaptation of the famous murder-mystery game.
In 2018, Deadline first reported that Reynolds' production company, Maximum Effort, was working with Hasbro and 20th Century Studios on a new "Clue."
"Deadpool" writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were in talks to pen the script in 2018.
In 2019, TheWrap reported that Jason Bateman was in talks to direct, star, and help write.
Deadline reported in 2022 that Oren Uziel is set to rewrite Reese and Wernick's script, and James Bobin will direct.
M.A.S.K.
In 2018, Deadline reported that Paramount and Hasbro were developing a movie about the '80s action figure line M.A.S.K.
A short-lived animated series based on the toy line was created in the mid-1980s, but now it will be on the big screen.
Gary Gray, who previously directed "The Italian Job," "The Fate of the Furious," and "Straight Outta Compton," will direct the upcoming movie.
In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Chis Bremner, who cowrote "Bad Boys for Life," will write the screenplay for the M.A.S.K. movie.
Polly Pocket, American Girl, Hot Wheels, and more
In 2018, Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie and other famous brands created a division to make movies inspired by its toys, games, and brands, and appointed Robbie Brenner, an acclaimed film producer, to oversee it.
"Barbie" is the first movie to be co-produced by Mattel Films, but a New Yorker article from July 2023 suggests that there are a total of 45 movies in development at Mattel, including movies based on Polly Pocket, Hot Wheels, American Girl, and a whole host more.
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