Welp, this is one of those inevitable news developments that only grows more terrifying as it becomes closer to existence. Even though Battleship tanked this summer — causing Universal to break their deal with Hasbro — Hollywood is still hungry (hungry) for more board game films and LA times has news on exactly what they plan to create for the big screen.
Hasbro has now signed a deal with the company Emmett/Furla Films to move forward on feature films based on the board games Hungry Hungry Hippos and Monopoly, as well as a blockbuster based on the toy Action Man. That middle film, which they hope will go into production next year, will still be produced by Ridley Scott, but this likely (and thankfully) means he won’t be stepping behind the camera as director.
Randall Emmett, of the aforementioned production company, is getting a bit smarter when it comes to financing the films. Instead of the $200 million-plus spent on Battleship, he hope to not go over the “comfortable” price point of $100 million on these upcoming features. While he didn’t give any more details on the Hippos adaptation — aside that it would be animated — he wants all the films (shockingly!) to be “family movies with broad appeal.” As all of these, plus Candyland, Stretch Armstrong and more moving forward in Hollywood, expect a whole lot more board game action in your summer movie line-up.
What could possibly come of a Hungry Hungry Hippos feature film? Are you looking forward to Scott staying on Monopoly?