I suppose it was only a matter of time, but Monopoly- the classic board game that could take 127 hours to complete- is going to be turned into a movie. But before your eyes disappear into the back of your head, there is an interesting aspect to this project. They’ve tapped Andrew Niccol, the Academy Award-nominated writer/director/producer to write the screenplay for the film. He’s no slouch, with films like The Truman Show, Gattaca, and The Terminal on his resumé. 

Here’s an excerpt from the official announcement of Monopoly: Directly To Go:

“Hasbro is a partner with incredible global reach, one of the most compelling brand portfolios in the world, and a signature brand in MONOPOLY that has multigenerational appeal,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erik Feig. “Andrew Niccol is the ultimate world creator responsible for such disparate and imaginative films as The Truman Show, Gattaca, and The Terminal. He is an inspired choice to develop this timeless property into a big, crowd-pleasing event film that will appeal to kids, families and anyone who has ever played the MONOPOLY game.”

“As we’ve seen with our other movies and television series, Hasbro’s brands are terrific for creating engaging stories and appealing characters that speak to audiences of all ages, and together with Lionsgate we will bring MONOPOLY to life on the big screen,” said Stephen Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer of Hasbro. “MONOPOLY is one of the most popular games of all time, and it will translate into a film with tremendous global appeal and marketability based on a script being deftly written by the remarkable Andrew Niccol.”

In keeping with a game that has brought so many hours of joy to so many for so long, MONOPOLY will be a film for all ages, visually sumptuous, heartwarming, and full of action and adventure. The story centers on a boy from Baltic Avenue who uses both Chance and Community in a quest to make his fortune, taking him on a fun, adventure-filled journey. It’s about making your own luck, what makes you truly rich and, of course, avoiding Jail time!

The MONOPOLY brand is the world’s favorite family gaming brand and an integral part of popular culture today. The game has been played by more than one billion people in 114 countries around the world and has been translated into 47 different languages. More people are playing the MONOPOLY game than ever before, offering kids and families the thrill of owning it all across a variety of platforms and formats.

Thoughts?

SOURCE: Lionsgate