Ridley Scott Talks 'Monopoly' Movie
Filed under: Comedy, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand
Although it was once a bizarre rumor, director Ridley Scott has confirmed his plans to work on a movie based off the popular board game, Monopoly. Speaking to The LA Times, Scott says: "Monopoly is still the most popular board game -- I might be misquoting! -- in the world. So it's really finding the universe for that game. Because clearly it ought to be humorous and for the family -- the funny way it brings out, particularly when your uncle suddenly gets Park Lane and -- in England, we have Park Lane, Mayfair and Barclay Square, what's it in America? Park and Madison? So you watch people change. You're witness to Jekyll and Hyde. Somewhere in that is a hysterically amusing and I think rather exciting film." I imagine he's referring to Park Place and Boardwalk -- two of the most expensive and lucrative spots in the American version.
Aside from trying to imagine what a Ridley Scott version of Monopoly would look like (keep in mind this is the guy who brought us Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and the upcoming, sure-to-be-Oscar-nominated American Gangster), I also wonder if there's a way to make this a family-oriented movie. Even the LA Times asks whether the film will focus on "our gilded age of greed," to which Scott replied: "That as well. Isn't that comical?" I have not played one game of Monopoly that hasn't ended in a fight (one came close to ending in a fist fight), so to bring this down to a level that kids and adults can relate to -- well, it could be tough. On whether Scott will look to the big-screen version of the board game Clue as a reference, he admits to not "really" seeing it, but at the same time says: "But I think it was quite clever." Personally, I think it will all come down to the characters. And no, I don't think the game pieces should be characters that talk. A thimble? C'mon. Do you think a Monopoly movie could work?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2007 @ 2:13PM
Jonathan Lapper said...
A MONOPOLY movie - how exciting. Thank god Ridley Scott is finally latching on to one of our most sadly underused sources for film in the world today, board games. Of course, being Ridley Scott I would have thought he would have gone for RISK instead. I can hardly wait for studios to start pouring millions into other bold adventures: STRATEGO, HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPO, SCRABBLE, OPERATION and let's not forget the true classics, BACKGAMMON and CHECKERS. Those independent filmmakers with actual stories and characters to explore are just meddlesome aren't they? It's a good thing the studios know where to invest their money. Boy, I wish I was as smart as them.
Well that was fun and now it's time for my alarm to go off and awaken me from this nightmare. Hello? Alarm? You mean I'm already awake? And this is really happening? AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Your friend Jonathan Lapper
http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com
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8-06-2007 @ 2:20PM
DaveTehWave said...
You forgot to mention he was responsible for 'Blade Runner' as well ;þ
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8-06-2007 @ 4:30PM
Ralph said...
I still like CLUE, it's a silly escape to watch.
Whatever the case, I don't think Scott has flipped; if anyone can turn the board game into a good film, he can. Read what he says; Monopoly (the game) is just a catalyst.
I mean, was PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES about the Richard Scarry books or something else entirely?
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8-07-2007 @ 12:09AM
Gabe said...
As Ted Stevens (ALASKAN REPUBLICAN SENATOR) would say during the pork debates....NO!!!!!
Maybe I should add a little dark vader moment to the end of that...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I for one think ridley scott is just pushing the shit around and having the good humor of disguising a joke.
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8-09-2007 @ 3:09PM
thew said...
Great. Now we can look forward to the "Monopoly" themed version of Monopoly.
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8-10-2007 @ 4:24PM
Jonathan Lapper said...
thew,
I didn't even think of that. That reminds of General Foods International Coffees. They've got one that is "Kahlua" flavored. Hmmmm. Kahlua is coffee flavored liquor. So they've got a coffee flavored liquor flavored coffee. Hey, maybe they're financing Monopoly!
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8-11-2007 @ 8:49AM
Angie said...
Err...he's also the genius responsible for the BLADE RUNNER movie(!!!), Mr Erik Davis. But ,seriously , Monopoly? This is gonna be terrible. You're awesome Ridley Scott, but wtf.
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8-11-2007 @ 1:54PM
Josh said...
I wonder who will be playing the hat's part
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8-11-2007 @ 2:38PM
James said...
I think Anthony Hopkins should play the Top Hat, Penelope Cruz should play the dog, Owen Wilson should play the man and his horse, Roseanne Barr should be the iron, and Charlie Sheen should play the car.
Also, they should add some action scenes where Marvin Gardens gets blown up, the dog goes to jail and gets anally raped by the guy "In Jail" played by John Malkovich, and Boardwalk is bought by one of the villians of the movie.
Hmmm--perhaps I should submit a screenplay to Ridley Scott. And btw, Blade Runner is a sci-fi classic!
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8-11-2007 @ 10:01PM
punk4jesus92 said...
i cant w8 go iron all the way
But WHEN DOSE IT COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
its gonna ROCK
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