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CULVER CITY, Calif., January 31, 2012 – Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison and Hasbro, Inc. are in final talks to develop Candy Land, a live action movie based on the bestselling Hasbro board game with Adam Sandler attached to star, it was jointly announced today by Doug Belgrad, President of Columbia Pictures, Hannah Minghella, President of Production for Columbia Pictures, and Brian Goldner, Hasbro President and CEO. Kevin Lima (Enchanted) is attached to direct the project for the studio with Sandler and Robert Smigel are in talks to write the screenplay.
Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, “Candy Land is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love. The world of Candy Land offers an extraordinary canvas upon which to create a fantastical, live-action family adventure film with a larger than life part for Adam. We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro and Happy Madison on this project.”
“The creative talent on board for this movie is amazing and we are excited to bring alive the world of Candy Land for kids and families everywhere,” Goldner added. “Sony/Columbia has been a wonderful creative partner as we develop another of our games, Risk, for the big screen. We are looking forward to working with Sony/Columbia and Adam Sandler and his team at Happy Madison Productions on this film.”
Candy Land is one of the most beloved and best known games of all time. Created in 1949, it has been played by generations of families. In the game, players go on a magical journey through fantastical lands made of candy, sweets, and ice cream: the Peppermint Forest, the Gum Drop Mountains, and the Lollypop Woods. Along the way, players encounter such iconic characters as Princess Frostine, Lord Licorice, Mr. Mint, and King Candy.
The project will be produced by Goldner (Transformers) and Hasbro’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Motion Pictures, Bennett Schneir (Battleship) along with Happy Madison Productions. At Columbia, development of Candy Land will be overseen by Sam Dickerman.
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Wow – that’s pretty huge. Great idea paired with the right talent = big movie. I’m as big of a cynic as anyone else who posts on these comment boards, but I’d release that movie any day of the week. (Not that anyone’s asking me…)
To play my own devil’s advocate, it will most likely make a ton o’ cash. And if I was a studio exec, I’d make the same call.
Great idea? What?? About as good of an idea as Battleship.
Candy Land with Adam Sandler makes 1000 times more sense than Battleship, but I actually think both movies sound like they’ll be hits. Smart move for Sony.
Do you ever get the feeling that the stuff coming from Sandler and Happy Madison are some form of revenge on the world for the relatively poor box office of his attempts at doing some more meaningful, or even serious films?
May I be the first to upchuck over the news.
If this news makes you vomit, you’re either A) jealous or B) not the audience for this family movie. Sorry that all movies can’t be directed by Chris Nolan.
why is it that because something is for a family audience, it’s okay for it to be garbage?
I think he’s sick because the guy who just made Jack and Jill just signed onto a movie about a colored piece of cardboard that you fold in half and put into a box.
This is gonna make a crapload of money with families.
I think it should start off in this magical land where candy grows everwhere and people eat it and get all obese and then half way through Hannibal Lecter shows up.
Thank you Adam Sandler for making yet another movie I won’t see. You used to be funny. What happened? Why not grow a pair and make a movie that appeals to people older than 10.
I had to doublecheck the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st. Really, how many boardgame movies do we need? (Answer: as many as the studios can shove down our throats.)
And Sandler? Really? Wasn’t Jack & Jill bad enough?
So far, the Hasbro movies have all been enormous hits. So why don’t you go have a conversation with the entire global audience and ask them to stop buying tickets and see your art films instead?
G.I. Joe “underperformed”.
GI Joe felt like a hit to me. And the second one will be bigger.
Then why is it getting rid of most of the original cast?
You’re comparing Hasbro properties with narratives to a GD board game. That is the most idiotic analogy ever.
Pass.
Sandler is not funny anymore and Lima had so much promise what happened? Bennett you have sold out.
It is though Sony were trying to be the worst studio with the cheesiest, worst films in the whole world. I had hoped for more from an ambitious, international studio, perhaps Twix: The Motion Picture, starring Seth Rogen?
Dream HARDER Sony, dream HARDER!
Sony seems to be better than most studios at making and marketing global hits. I doubt that they need your advice.
No kidding! I didn’t bother with Jack and Jill. Just Go With It was a let down. This more than makes up for 2011!
I smell a box office hit!
I can’t wait for “Rise Of The Hungry Hungry Hippos”, starring Some Fat Guy In a Mo-Cap Suit.
That’s actually a funny idea.
But re: Candyland/Adam Sandler, I wish he’d stop taking such an “auteur” (wrong word, I know) role on all of his movies. Not that Funny People did him any good… But I’d still like to see him do a Todd Phillips movie or something written/created by ANYONE but himself.
Or, why doesn’t Sandler do an R-rated movie? If anything, just to get back some credibility.
All of the ingredients for this unappealing stew are in the comments here: Sandler has been a popular movie star. He makes juvenile movies. His star has started to show signs of tarnish recently. These “property” movies tend to do well – sometimes VERY well. Sandler sees a chance to make a huge paycheck in a paint-by-numbers movie. Sony wants a name to prop up same mindless movie. It’s a match made in hell. In other words, they win, the moviegoing audience loses.
Outside of the Transformers, what Hasbro movies have been hits? “Clue” from 1985? Don’t think so. And to the lone poster who keeps defending this horrid idea of a movie, not every film has to be an intelligent art house flick. But not every studio film has to be a pile of steaming crap, either.
I saw Clue opening weekend. All three endings. And all three Transformers and G.I. Joe. I have no interest in seeing an Adam Sandler movie, but my kids will. Just because you hate the idea of commercial movies doesnt mean that the audience agrees with you. Sometimes it’s fun to see popcorn fluff. So poo on you.
Clue wasn’t a Hasbro property then.
WTF? I feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. I’m blushing with embarrassment just reading this press release. I guess the world needs something to take their under 5 year-olds to. I suppose it worked for alvin and the chipmunks, but at least that (wretched) franchise had characters. Sort of.
Gimme some Candy!
Huge fan of Sandlers, but would never take my family to see one of his films. Am guessing most of white trash America will though.
I can see the dialog now…”I ate too much candy.” Cue the fart jokes. Can someone please revoke Sandler’s permit to make movies. Jack & Jill, Just Go With It, Grown Ups, Funny People, Zohan, Chuck & Larry, Click, Longest Yard, Spanglish…need I go on? Happy Madison is a giant factory of crap. Can anyone name a SINGLE funny movie that they have produced, especially when SandMan is the lead? I’m sure there will be rants about them making $. I’m talking about funny. Making people laugh. Anyone?
They’d better go with the old school Lord Licorice design, or there’s gonna be a riot.
Can’t wait for the free Glucometer test with each ticket.
This sounds more fitting for Johnny Depp. Should be fun to see how huge this gets.
The product placement alone will ensure this film makes crazy money.
Movies based on toys, theme park rides and comic books — The American film has been flushed down a giant toilet.
Awesom-O from South Park must have suggested this fantastic idea. Another winner for Happy Madison. What a talentless black hole of nothing Hollywood is. Stop it! And if your justifying this you’re no better.
good mix I guess with Sandler and the game. probably do well even though Sandler is doing the same brain dead routine over and over and it’s just not funny at all. He makes such dumb shit.
First two words that came to mind when I saw this were: rock bottom.
I’m sure it will be hit.