Universal Pictures and Hasbro Sign Strategic Partnership (ENI)
Universal Pictures and Hasbro, Inc. [NYSE:HAS] announced today that they have formed a six-year strategic partnership to produce at least four motion pictures based on some of the world's best-known and beloved brands, including "MONOPOLY," "CANDY LAND," "CLUE," "OUIJA," "BATTLESHIP," "MAGIC, THE GATHERING," and "STRETCH ARMSTRONG."Bwahahahahahahahah!!!
Ok. I can see Transformers. I can see GIJoe. I can see frigg'n My Little Pony and Care Bears even.
But I am just not seeing fictional based value in any of these outside of maybe some really thin fiction based on the Magic game thing.
"This deal gives Universal access to some of the greatest brands in the world," explained Shmuger and Linde. "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."Maybe I'm just not cool and hip but I've read this last quote a couple of times and all I can do to keep from laughing is realize that someone, regardless of how utterly bullshitty it all sounds, is making money.
"Universal's creativity and worldwide marketing and distribution strength make them the perfect partner," said Goldner. "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."
Though quite frankly, I can't see Hasbro making much off some of this.
So you... *snicker* make another Clue movie or a Monopoly movie or even a Candy Land movie... how many repaints of a board game do you have to sell to make a profit?
It isn't exactly like "tremendous emotional resonance" of these games can possibly translate into new "unique and immersive experiences".
It is like the 80's logic in green lighting film productions is back in full swing.
Those sound silly until you get to Magic the Gathering... If you thought LoTR was epic the storylines from Magic the Gathering would blow that away if ever made into a movie. The Weatherlight series forward into Urza's was so well written I was amazed it came from WoTC.
Several of those properties would make great musical theater productions for the middle school set; there's actually a shortage of light comic material that's recognizable for that age group. I've been beginning developing Candy Land as a musical, and I was going to approach Hasbro this summer to pitch the idea through a producer I know in NY, but since the studio's got the intellectual property rights tied up I suppose I'm wasting my time now. I know my idea must seem crazy, but just a few years ago when that rag of a Willy Wonka remake was in production it put the brakes (temporarily) on an educational release of a stage production of the original (Gene Wilder) version, even though the music was different. I need to research more how to acquire development rights on these things, but in this case it probably wouldn't have mattered---I doubt I can compete with the big studios in this arena---perhaps I should approach Universal with the idea?
Are you a guild member where your own IP will be protected?
I'd be hesitant to approach any studio about such stuff.
Then again, I trust no one about anything.
Jin,
Magic does have an interesting storyline. I don't play anymore but have friends that continue to rave about it. I'm skeptical though. the D&D movie was absolutely horrible. I fear that the same fate would fall a Magic movie.
The problem I'm seeing as of late is a lazy attitude taken to movies maded from existing IP. They figure the cross appeal of fans from the IP will sell enough to make the movie worth it and the script and other things suffer. So you end up with something that is either poor or ok rather than something that can be great.
Not even going to talk about the nausiating trend to have a trilogy to spread out the pain. It is good when the movie is good, but however I have a feeling the TF movies are going to be a painful experience, but just enough folks will like it to make it successful
"CANDYLAND" would work great as an LSD-inspired, trippy sixties-sorta thing. Kind of like an homage to "THE TRIP," perhaps. That could work.
"STRETCH ARMSTRONG" would make an excellent Pixar-type thing.....
....or adult type-thing....hmmm.
I think I'll leave that one alone....Yeah, these movie ideas pretty much suck.
Clue was a very funny movie. I watched it again recently at my brothers place. I don't see how a Candyland or Manopoly movie would make sense as a movie. Hungry Hungry Hippo's on the other hand...
"Monopoly: Chance Power Edition" - With electric blue playing pieces!
Battleship - Now released in colors based ont he Dreamwave comic baed on the movie prequel!
Beatbox Quija! - Play your favorite tunes while predicting whether of not that cute boy behind you in English class has a crush on you!
I can see the marking possibilities now.
How about "Monopoly: Monopoly Movie Edition" - Now play monopoly just lik the characters in the game. Featuring properties such as Parkplace and Atlantic Avenue!
Better yet, "Monopoly: Candly Land Movie Edition"
Man, I wish i had an hour or two to kill in Photoshop.
Clue was an awesome movie; it could be worthy of an update. Monopoly could also be interesting if they basically manufactured something akin to the ensemble mystery / farce of the former.
As for Magic... I'm not a fan of the series, but I have to agree - the accompanying fiction to the series is both incredibly comprehensive and surprisingly well-written. If handled competently, it could easily generate three trilogies worth of blockbuster material.
More likely to get D&Ded, though.
They've done the ouija board thing already, with the added bonus of Patch from "Days of Our Lives" and Tawny Kitaen: former Whitesnake vixen, OJ girlfriend, and abuser of baseball stars. How could you top that nowadays? Only with Britney Spears and one of the stars of "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody," that's how.
Nala:
I'm actually pretty clueless about how to go about it, but I agree with you---I'm pretty wary of the studio absconding with anything I'd come up with. I'll probably just abandon the project for now and work on some of my own stuff.
But I do think that they should do Transformers Monopoly: The Movie, you know, before all the good storylines are taken. . . Hah!
I liked the 80s version of the Clue movie too ... subtle humour, but clever nonetheless.