Hasbro

Adam Sandler to Star in and Co-Write CANDY LAND for Sony

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 31st, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Serious news alert: Adam Sandler is starring in the Candy Land movie. Hot on the heels of yesterdays news that Relativity will release a Taylor Lautner-free Stretch Armstrong in April 2014 comes word that Sony Pictures is in final talks to develop the Candy Land movie. The film was previously set up at Universal along with multiple other Hasbro board game movies, but the studio apparently realized this was a terrible idea and has been dumping Hasbro properties left and right. The only property they’re keeping is Battleship, which hits theaters this summer. Hit the jump for more, including what famous SNL scribe is writing the screenplay alongside Sandler.

Relativity Sets STRETCH ARMSTRONG for April 11, 2014; Taylor Lautner No Longer Attached

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 30th, 2012 at 9:58 am

That Stretch Armstrong movie no one wanted is now set for April 11, 2014.  The film was previously set up at Universal, but the studio has been dumping its Hasbro properties as fast as possible, and the adaptation Stretch Armstrong was left looking for a new home.  The film has now landed at Relativity, the studio behind Haywire and the upcoming Mirror, Mirror and The Raven.   Taylor Lautner was previously attached to star with Rob Letterman (Gulliver’s Travels) set to direct, but they’re both no longer attached.

Hit the jump for the press release, which is more about Relativity being happy to team with Hasbro rather than any explanation about why anyone should make a movie about Stretch Armstrong.

Hasbro Reveals Details of Marvel’s THE AVENGERS Toys; First Look at Character Action Figures

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 20th, 2012 at 1:01 pm

As we’re only a couple months away from the release of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, Hasbro is busy readying their toy line to coincide with the all-star superhero movie. A few of the action figure creators took part in a live-blog discussion today, where they unveiled a few details regarding the toy line. Among the revelations, they said they have planned over 15 different figures in the 3 3/4” product line, as well as many more within Marvel Universe. Furthermore, while most of the characters will be tie-ins to the movie, they mixed in some “classic” for Marvel fans (they were remiss to reveal more). Hasbro also confirmed a fair amount of vehicles in the line that directly correlate to the film.

Hit the jump to check out images from the toy line. The Avengers opens in 3D on May 4th.

Hasbro Toys Concept Art from Tim Burton’s Aborted SUPERMAN LIVES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 14th, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Superman Lives is the non-movie-movie gift that keeps on giving. Director Tim Burton’s Superman adaptation never made it to the screen, but plenty of concept art was drawn up and costume tests were performed. We’ve seen Nicolas Cage looking ridiculous in the rubbery Superman suit, we’ve seen images of the costume sculpts from the film, and we’ve even seen video of the light-infused suit in action. Now more concept art has surfaced by way of Hasbro’s mock-ups for the all important toy tie-ins. They’re in keeping with the silliness that Burton had planned, and are worth a gander if this sort of thing piques your interest. They also include a look at the Kryptonian Explorer. Hit the jump to check them out.

MICRONAUTS Script to be Penned by ZOMBIELAND Scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 17th, 2011 at 5:48 pm

When one line of robot toys being turned into a massively successful movie franchise isn’t enough, it’s good to have a contingency plan.  Luckily for Hasbro, their Micronauts toy line will now undergo the film treatment through Paramount with J.J. Abrams producing.  Penning the script for this endeavor will be Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the team behind Zombieland. The project was listed as a priority during Hasbro’s third-quarter earnings conference, so it’s no surprise that the high-profile writing team of Wernick and Reese got the job.  Hit the jump for more on Micronauts.

Updates on TRANSFORMERS 4, MICRONAUTS, and Other Hasbro Boardgame Movies like RISK, CLUE, and MONOPOLY

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 17th, 2011 at 7:46 am

On a conference call to discuss third-quarter earnings, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner gave updates on a number of movies. While much of what he said we’ve previously written about, this was the first time anyone had given an update on the status of Transformers 4 and when it might be officially announced.  Here’s the highlights of his conversation:

• Goldner hopes to be able to announce Transformers 4 next quarter as they are talking with Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay and Paramount.
• The Ouija script is “in good shape and is being polished now, meaning that the film could be back with a studio shortly.”  via THR.  We previously posted how Universal dropped the project but maybe with a lower budget the film could move ahead.
• A Micronauts movie script is being written with J.J. Abrams producing and it’s set up at Paramount.  We’ve know this for awhile.
• Goldner doesn’t see Hasbro producing their own films like Marvel.
• Hasbro is still developing movie scripts for Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Stretch Armstrong and Candyland.

With every kid growing up playing Hasbro board games and name recognition being so important in marketing, it’s no surprise the studios are trying to make these projects work.  However, many of these board games seem like long shots to ever hit the screen.  The big info is Transformers 4.  With Bay saying the 3rd Transformers movie would be his last, who will Hasbro get to replace him?  Matt wrote about the six directors who could take over the franchise.  I think a few of them would be great choices.

Universal Won’t Solve CLUE; Adaptation Moves Forward with Hasbro Producing and Gore Verbinski Still Attached to Direct

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 3rd, 2011 at 12:34 pm

Universal’s movie deal with Hasbro has been a serious burden for the story.  Whether they make movies based on Hasbro products or not, the studio still has to pay out.  However, that means Universal has to find a way to create stories based on Ouija, Stretch Armstrong, and other board games and toys.  The luke-warm to derisive reaction to the Battleship trailer has to be making the company skittish to say the least.  Deadline reports that Universal now has a few less properties to worry about as they’ve dropped Gore Verbinski’s Clue along with Ridley Scott’s Monopoly and an adaptation of Magic: The Gathering (and I had saved up so much mana!).

However, none of these projects are dead.  Clue is moving forward with Verbinski still planning to direct with Hasbro producing and Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama (the Flash Gordon remake) signed on to write the script.  Verbinski’s take reportedly retains the murder-mystery of the game but expands it to a global stage.  Please, please, please let someone say that the movie is Clue meets Risk as if the pieces got mixed up.  Hit the jump for more details on Universal’s other Hasbro properties.

Exhibitors Hall Floor Map for 2011 San Diego Comic-Con

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 11:27 am

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get crushed by tens of thousands of people?  Then you may want to walk (or attempt to walk) the Exhibitors’ Hall at Comic-Con.  Despite the seeming chaos of the hall, there is actually a method to the madness.  Major companies get the center (except for video game companies which get their own corner), artists are shunted as far off to the side as possible, and most of the sellers inhabit one-half of the hall.

But where the crush truly happens is at the insane lines circling the major companies as fans line up for swag and autographs.  The usual suspects are all here: DC Comics, Marvel, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Mattel, LucasFilm, CBS/Showtime, Lionsgate, Hasbro, and Sideshow Collectibles.  I’m not sure why Square-Enix gets such a large booth considering everything they make nowadays is crap.  Hit the jump to check out the full map.  The 2011 San Diego Comic-Con runs from July 21 – 24th.

6 Directors Who Could Take Over the TRANSFORMERS Franchise

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 4th, 2011 at 10:59 am

Now that Michael Bay has wrapped his trilogy of Transformers films, it looks like he’s ready to move on to other exploding pastures. Since Paramount and Hasbro want to keep the fire burning on one of their biggest moneymakers, two major decisions lay ahead: when to release the next movie and who should direct it. Bay has been able to crank out Transformers film every two years since 2007, but his infrastructure, crew, and designs have remained in place as opposed to a new director who will, to some extent, have to start from scratch so as not to simply imitate Bay. Transformers 4 could come as early as summer 2013, but I would bet a summer 2014 date is more likely.

But who will direct it? Who can fill Bay’s expensive, nonsensical shoes? It needs to be someone who can manage a big budget and even bigger special effects. It’s not enough to make stuff blow up. You need to understand how to do it properly. After the jump you can check out my suggestions for six directors who could handle Optimus Prime and Friends.

KUNG FU PANDA Writers to Pen CANDY LAND Script for Director Kevin Lima

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 28th, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Universal has hired Kung Fu Panda writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger to pen the script for a movie based on the board game Candy Land and directed by Kevin Lima (Enchanted).  The development of Candy Land falls under Universal’s worst deal of all-time that they made with Hasbro back in 2008.  If you’re wondering why a studio would waste time on movies like Battleship and Stretch Armstrong, there’s your answer.  The film has been in development since 2008 and various writers, including Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder) and Chris Morgan (Wanted) have worked on the project.

Heat Vision reports that Candy Land is being fashioned as a “a live-action epic adventure.” The story has the protagonists tasked with finding the lost king of Candy Land.  Players of the board game wind their way through locales like Candy Cane Forest and Gum Drop Mountain.  Candy Land is also responsible for 35% of all childhood obesity.  While I totally made up that statistic, I’m pretty sure it’s true.

Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth Visit the Hasbro Toy Fair Showroom

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 15th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

Earlier today, we brought you images of director Michael Bay and Rosie Huntington-Whitely visiting Hasbro’s 2011 Toy Fair Showroom and checking out a new line of Transformers toys. Well now, we’ve got images of Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) visiting the showroom to check out some new Captain America and Thor toys. Hit the jump to check them out.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Director Michael Bay Visit the Hasbro Toy Fair Showroom

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 15th, 2011 at 12:12 am

Last night, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the gorgeous new female lead of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and director Michael Bay visited Hasbro’s 2011 Toy Fair showroom in New York to check out the line of new Transformers toys that will be released nationwide May 16, 2011.  While I debated if I should post the images, I know a few of you are going to want to check them out…

McG Will Direct OUIJA

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 4th, 2011 at 6:31 pm

A few weeks ago, we reported that McG (Terminator Salvation) and Breck Eisner (The Crazies) would duke it out for the Ouija director’s chair.  Tonight we can confirm that McG has emerged victorious and will helm Universal’s adaptation of the Hasbro board game.  Per Heat Vision, the studio is now in negotiations with the director who will helm a script by Tron: Legacy scribes Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis.

While Universal and Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes are keeping plot details for Ouija close to the vest, it is believed that the film will be akin to adventure films such as The Mummy and Indiana Jones.  Maybe it’s just me, but this vague description keeps making me think that Ouija will come out looking a lot like a sequel to 1995′s Jumanji (a film that nine-year old me was none too fond of).  Again, it’s probably just me.  As for McG, his next directorial effort is the romantic comedy This Means War starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy.  Ouija currently has a release date of November 9, 2012.

Three Directorial Candidates for OUIJA; Thanksgiving 2012 Release Planned

by Kevin Panasiewicz    Posted: October 27th, 2010 at 6:17 pm

According to Deadline, Ouija, the film based on the Hasbro game popular among youth and cult worshipers alike, has three chief candidates vying for the director’s chair: The Losers director Sylvain White, Taken director Pierre Morel (which we reported on here), and Priest helmer Scott Stewart. A winner is suspected to emerge within the next couple weeks.

Ouija is one of three upcoming tentpole films with its origins stemming from a Hasbro product, with Peter Berg’s Battleship – which recently scored Liam Neeson as a Navy admiral – set for a May 18^th, 2012 release and Rob Letterman’s Stretch Armstrong – with Taylor Lautner attached to star - likely to go before lenses sometime in 2013. Ouija is penciled in for a Thanksgiving 2012 release. Hasbro and Platinum Dunes will be co-financing the picture with Universal.  Info on the Ouija Board and my thoughts on the candidates after the jump.

Our Top Ten Comic Con 2010 Exclusives, Including KICK-ASS, PREDATOR, TRON, THUNDERCATS, More; Plus, Our Tips on How to Buy Them

by Germain Lussier    Posted: July 5th, 2010 at 12:42 pm

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re aware that San Diego Comic Con is about two weeks away. The best part about this geek nirvana is no matter what your poison, comics, art, television, video games, movies, etc., there’s something for everyone. One of the specific niches that Comic Con is best known for is limited edition collectibles. Each year, seemingly every booth creates a batch of merchandise that will only ever be sold for those magical four days in San Diego.

The official Comic Con website recently put up the “full” list of exclusives (we say “full” because things will continue to be added to the list) and it’s pretty huge. So we went through and picked out the ten that we feel Collider readers might find most appealing, or could make for the best investment after July 22-25. Hit the jump for the list as well as tips on purchasing them.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design