I wouldn’t be surprised if Hasbro is getting a little peeved with Universal studio. A couple of years ago, the studio announced plans to turn seven Hasbro board game properties into movies within a six year span. However, Deadline reports that Universal has now dropped Clue (based on the game known as Cluedo in the UK). It it were only one of the adaptation the studio had done away with, Hasbro would probably not be that bothered, but this is number three after Monopoly and Magic The Gathering were also shelved, while Stretch Armstrong has also been massively delayed (it was originally due to shoot for release this year).
To be honest, Universal’s decision on Clue isn’t that surprising, as while fun, the 1985 movie adaptation was a major flop, and it’s difficult to turn it into anything but a period murder mystery – something that’s likely to have limited mainstream appeal. The plan was to try and get Gor Verbinski to turn it into something bigger and more expansive, with the mystery taking place on a global scale, but it was always going to be a gamble.
None of these upcoming adaptations are dead, mind you. They’re just not at Universal anymore. Hasbro is now developing Clue on its own and still has Gore Verbinski attached to write and direct. Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama are currently penning the screenplay. However at the moment it has no studio backing, something it will need to get after Hasbro has developed it.
Universal meawhile is currently focusing on the last four board game adaptations in its stable, which include next summer’s Battleship (at least it is definitely making one of them), as well as big screen versions of Candy Land, Stretch Armstrong, and the horror-themed family thriller Ouija.