In an apparent attempt to mine every existing intellectual property in the world for film ideas, Hollywood has turned its sights on the much-beloved board game market. Universal, in particular, has secured the rights to two of America’s most classic games, Monopoly and Battleship.
Battleship will reportedly be first. Universal has set a release date for the coveted Memorial Day weekend of 2012 for the as-yet unplotted action epic. The movie was originally on course for release during summer of next year, but the date has been pushed back to allow more time to put together the huge vision proposed for the project.
Heavyweight action director Peter Berg is handling the film, and has put forth a pitch that will include Earth’s combined military forces fighting against (of all things) aliens.
President and CEO of Hasbro, Brian Goldner, had this to say about the project:
“Universal has put all the elements in place to successfully launch two of our classic Hasbro brands on the big screen. Giving Pete Berg and the filmmakers the extra time and resources to make Battleship an even bigger summer blockbuster is sure to pay dividends when the film is released in 2012.”
The film is sure to pull in the kind of massive returns that no doubt were the reasoning and influence behind the studio’s decision to adapt the board game.
No word yet on any casting choices, or on whose idea it was to include aliens in a film about warships fighting one another.
