‘Monopoly’ Movie Will be Written By ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Team

The upcoming “Monopoly” movie has secured a duo of writers proficient in transforming timeless games into captivating cinematic experiences.

It’s John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who have made a name for themselves by directing and co-writing the hit movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” (2023), which transformed the classic role-playing game into a blockbuster action film. They also directed the 2018 comedy “Game Night”. It seems they are highly sought after in Hollywood for any films that involve games.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pair are about to finalize an agreement to pen the Monopoly film for Hasbro and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment.

For quite some time now, various iterations of a “Monopoly” film have been under consideration. At one stage, renowned director Ridley Scott contemplated the concept (a nod to his punny board game reference), while screenwriter Andrew Niccol of “The Truman Show” fame penned a script for this Monopoly movie in the past too.

2019 found me eagerly anticipating Kevin Hart’s role in a Monopoly movie, but alas, that never came to pass. Last spring, however, I learned that Margot Robbie had stepped up to breathe life into this elusive project. The twist? Lionsgate, having acquired eOne from Hasbro, now held the rights to produce films based on various Hasbro concepts, Monopoly being one of them. As a cinephile, I can’t wait to see what she does with it!

Besides creating movies based on different video games, Daley and Goldstein are known for directing the 2015 legacy sequel to ‘Vacation’, and have penned or collaborated on scripts for films such as ‘Horrible Bosses’, ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2’, ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and ‘The Flash’.

Apart from making movies about video games, Daley and Goldstein have directed the sequel to Vacation (2015) and written or helped write films like Horrible Bosses, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and The Flash.

Originating from Parker Brothers in 1935, Monopoly continues to be one of the most recognized board games globally, where players strive to accumulate wealth using rainbow-colored money by acquiring different Atlantic City properties. The game features a mascot (Mr. Monopoly with his monocle) but lacks a substantial narrative or well-defined characters; the silver thimman figure might be an exception. This could account for numerous attempts to create a Monopoly movie, yet none have been successful so far.

The Best ’80s Happy Meal Toys

Fast Macs (1985)

As a child of the ’80s, merely gazing at these vehicles could evoke nostalgic memories. The “Fast Macs” were pullback cars, each featuring one of four McDonald’s character drivers: The Hamburglar in a sporty roadster, Big Mac in a police car, Birdie the Early Bird in a convertible, and Ronald McDonald in a sports car. The packaging claimed they would perform zany zooms, silly spins, wild wheelies, and loony loops when pulled back. I don’t recall them living up to that hype, but they were still enjoyable to collect.

An American Tail (1986)

Children from the ’80s were rightfully hesitant when it came to non-toy prizes in their Happy Meals, but these small storybooks arrived at a perfect moment for fans of the movie “An American Tail”. This animated film tells the story of a mouse named Fievel who gets lost from his family as they immigrate from Russia to America. Though it may not be widely recognized today, this movie was a massive hit in 1986 (it also produced the popular ’80s song “Somewhere Out There”) but finding merchandise related to American Tail was quite challenging. These Happy Meal books were just what fans needed.

Stomper Trucks (1986)

In the early 1980s, battery-operated toy cars called Stompers were introduced to the market. By the end of the decade, they had largely faded away, but in 1986, they joined forces with McDonald’s for a promotion offering eight distinct “hand-powered trucks.” While regular Stompers ran on batteries, the ones given out as part of the Happy Meal were powered by children pushing them.

LEGO (1986)

It’s clear that those four LEGO sets appear surprisingly basic compared to modern ones. However, in 1986, these were an amazing addition to a Happy Meal toy collection. The reason? You could dismantle and reassemble them countless times, but the real charm was the versatility of the pieces. They could be mixed and matched in various ways or simply added to your existing pile of LEGO bricks.

In case you’ve forgotten, most children from the 80s didn’t have complete LEGO structures neatly displayed on shelves. Instead, they had a bin filled with random blocks that were occasionally pulled out for building, only to be left scattered on the floor for parents to accidentally step on.

The Real Ghostbusters (1987)

For many years, one of my school supplies was a pencil sharpener shaped like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, a character from The Real Ghostbusters. I adored it because it efficiently sharpened countless pencils without causing any damage to churches. By the end of its service life, its blue and red paint had faded and flaked, and it was covered in dark stains from the graphite it interacted with. It wasn’t until I researched for this piece that I discovered this pencil sharpener was a prize from a Happy Meal collection of school supplies. At the time, most kids would have been disappointed to receive a pencil or notebook instead of a toy Ecto-1, but looking back, that Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man pencil sharpener certainly brings back memories.

Muppet Babies (1987)

In the ’80s, a significant number of Happy Meal toys were designed with two components: action figures and vehicles. This design was likely driven by a strategic purpose – the interchangeable parts encouraged children to revisit McDonald’s to acquire more toys. One of the initial sets following this pattern was associated with the popular animated series, “Muppet Babies.” Each set consisted of four characters (Kermit, Gonzo, Piggy, and Fozzie) and four interchangeable ride-on accessories. How many children from the ’80s developed a lasting interest in toy collection due to the social pressure to own every figure from the “Muppet Babies” Happy Meal series?

The Berenstain Bears (1987)

In the same year, McDonald’s introduced a comparable collection of toys and vehicles based on the beloved cartoon series, “The Berenstain Bears,” which was airing on CBS at the time. Children had the chance to collect figurines of Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister. However, this led to heated debates among them about whether the family’s last name was spelled as Berenstain or Berenstein.

Boats ’N Floats (1987)

In the 1980s, McDonald’s occasionally switched things up by making the packaging for the Happy Meal the prize itself. For instance, the “Boats ‘N Floats” promotion in 1987 replaced the regular Happy Meal box with a hollow, two-piece plastic pool toy decorated with popular McDonald’s characters. Although it might not be wise to consume a Happy Meal in a large body of water, and the name may seem like a gag from “Step Brothers,” these toys were quite popular. If you were living in the ’80s, chances are you had one or two of them handy, ready to liven up bathtime.

Halloween Pails (Various)

Hardly any Happy Meal prize is as recognizable as their Halloween-themed buckets. Introduced in 1986, these became a traditional part of the Happy Meal for many years. (They were momentarily out of production during the mid-2010s but returned later.) Over time, they’ve had different appearances, yet the set most remembered features an orange pumpkin, a green witch, and a white ghost. The aroma of nostalgia seems to emanate from these items. (Indeed, nostalgia has a distinct scent, like inexpensive plastic and aged Halloween candy.)

New Food Changeables (1987)

In the 1980s, transforming toys such as Transformers, Go-Bots, and their counterparts were extremely popular. Joining the trend was McDonald’s with their “Changeables” line in Happy Meals. These miniature food items like a Big Mac or fries transformed into robots, although they may appear simplistic today, they were incredibly sought-after in 1989. Children collected them, traded them, and aspired to own every single one – a challenge due to the random nature of the Happy Meal toys. These Changeables were first launched in 1987, reintroduced in 1989 with new characters, and then again in 1990, featuring food items that transformed into dinosaurs instead of robots.

Oliver & Company (1988)

These days, parents often express dissatisfaction with the Disney merchandising machine that never seems to stop. Every film spawns dolls, toys, clothing, bedding, toothbrushes, pesticides, floor cleaners, and a multitude of other licensed products. The 1980s were a more straightforward era, and often, the only way for kids to get toys based on the latest Disney movie was through a Happy Meal. Items like these Oliver & Company finger puppets, which might have been considered cheap trinkets otherwise, became cherished keepsakes for children. (Can’t you just imagine how many kids would love a Billy Joel finger puppet? That item is practically invaluable!)

Fraggle Rock (1988)

Over time, it appeared that the individual components of the Happy Meal toys – the vehicle and the figurine – began to merge into a single, undoubtedly cost-effective item, usually a cartoon-themed vehicle featuring a miniature, stationary figure. Although these toys had fewer collecting value and were more restrictive in terms of play options (they could move or stay parked), they were still thoughtfully designed, like the Fraggle Rock cars where four different Muppets were depicted driving miniature automobiles shaped as various vegetables. I don’t remember the Fraggle Rock cast frequently driving around in vegetable-shaped vehicles on the show, but it has been quite some time since I last watched it.

McNugget Buddies (1988)

In the ’80s, a popular addition to Happy Meals were the McNugget Buddies – tiny plastic McNuggets adorned with changeable clothing accessories. The initial collection featured characters like a police officer, firefighter, cowboy, and rock star, serving as a marketing strategy for introducing Chicken McNuggets in Happy Meals instead of a cheeseburger.

These toys quickly became a hit due to their simplicity and collectible value, prompting McDonald’s to periodically reintroduce them with new designs over the years. Fast forward to 2023, the concept was revived as an adult collector’s item in collaboration with artist Kerwin Frost.

In this version, the toys were no longer just for kids but designed for collectors, reflecting a fun twist on the original concept.

Mickey’s Birthdayland (1989)

In an innovative collaboration, Disney and McDonald’s took their strategic alliance to new levels by introducing a Happy Meal that showcased beloved Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. This promotion coincided with the debut of the new Mickey’s Birthdayland area at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. As I recall spending hours playing with my red car Mickey, I find myself pondering: What connection exists between these common cars and “Birthdayland”? Additionally, it seems questionable that a dog is driving a car in this context; safety concerns aside, it appears rather unusual.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989)

Additionally that same year, McDonald’s introduced vehicles modeled after the beloved Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers television series. The characters remained stationary within their vehicles, which were creatively designed to resemble common household items. However, accessories such as propellers and rotors could be exchanged among the vehicles, prompting children to persuade their parents to return to the restaurant repeatedly. In my home, this strategy proved very effective.

2025-03-06 19:04