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This is a stretch: How they're making a movie based on Armstrong toy
Universal Pictures has set Bruce Almighty scribe Steve Oedekerk to write Stretch Armstrong, a superhero comedy based on the Hasbro-owned toy line, Variety reported.
The project marks the latest Hasbro property to find its way onto the Universal development slate since the toymaker made an overall deal at the studio. Universal and Hasbro are readying movie adaptations of Monopoly (a potential Ridley Scott directing vehicle), Candyland (with Etan Cohen scripting and Kevin Lima directing) and Ouija (being developed by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes).
The toy, a 13-inch, blond-haired muscled figure whose limbs could be stretched to nearly four feet, was launched by Kenner in the '70s. The character had a dog named Fetch Armstrong and a sibling, Evil X-Ray Wretch Armstrong. Attempts to turn him into a movie stretch back to 1998, when Disney tried to make the film with Danny DeVito and later Jackie Chan.
By 13th Cylon at 8:07 AM ON 02/13/09
Ok, so does anyone else think that this is a bad idea? Is Hollywood so absolutely devoid of new and original ideas that they are making movies out of stretch toys, and 75 year old board games? I weep for the future.
By dragonhung at 9:23 AM ON 02/13/09
I agree - waste of time.
And I think there already was a movie based on the Ouija board game.
Just gonna throw this out there to all those producers and movie folk - take a visit to your local library and gander among the shelves for an afternoon. If you're looking for ideas, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Enough material to last you a lifetime. Don't forget your library card.
By Jocko at 9:33 AM ON 02/13/09
65,000 movie titles available from netflicks.
Try coming up with an original idea... go ahead.
By Marty B. at 9:59 AM ON 02/13/09
Of course if the Wachowski(sp?) brothers went forward with Plastic Man, we'd all be cool, right?
This is a Hasbro product movie. Hasbro owns the Transformers brand. Their Transformers film not only brought in big summer blockbuster box office, but also boosted toy sales of the line (and not just the movie line toys). They're trying it again with the sequel, and also branching into a different brand with G.I. Joe this summer.
It may seem weird from an outsider/audience perspective, but if you're a brand manager and you see the numbers that went off the charts with T-formers, you may want to swing your brand down by the licensing and media ventures folks.
Incidentally, the last time Transformers had anywhere near the sales it has now was ... back in the 80s when they had TV/comic book tie-ins.
Dragonhung, are you saying rather than coming up with original stories adapted from toy properties, they should stick with adapting stories found in books? I know you're trying to argue for creativity, but you're really just arguing for another form of adaptation.
By feckineejit at 11:13 AM ON 02/14/09
This creeps me out almost as much as the candyland fan-fiction porn I read the other day.
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