A film based on the board game Monopoly is set to be produced by Margot Robbie’s company LuckyChap.
The news that the Barbie producer is attached to the project was announced at this year’s CinemaCon, a gathering of exhibitors and stars in Las Vegas.
LuckyChap Entertainment was formed in 2014 by Robbie, Tom Ackerley (her husband), Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr. They state that their mission is to produce interesting stories by and about women.
LuckyChap’s other films including Saltburn and I, Tonya, and they also have a big screen version of video game The Sims in the works.
They will join with Lionsgate and toymaker Hasbro to create the board game-based movie. LuckyChap said, “Monopoly is a top property – pun fully intended. Like all of the best Intellectual Property, this game has resonated worldwide for generations, and we are so excited to bring this game to life alongside the wonderful teams involved at Lionsgate and Hasbro.”
Monopoly was created by activist Lizzie Magie in the 1900s. Originally known as The Landlord’s Game, she was was granted a patent in 1904 at a time when less than 1% of patents were held by women. The Landlord’s Game was conceived as a teaching tool to explain what Magie saw as the economic problems with the tax system of the time.
Magie sold the rights to her game to the games manufacturer Parker Brothers in 1935 at the age of 70. The next month the company purchased the rights to a similar game by Charles B Darrow. He was subsequently credited as Monopoly’s inventor and Magie’s involvement was largely forgotten.
It is not known whether the film will focus on Magie and the history of Monopoly or the game itself.
Zev Foreman, Head of Film for Hasbro Entertainment, said, “As one of the most iconic games in the world, Monopoly provides an incredible platform for storytelling opportunities. We are thrilled to have the unique vision of LuckyChap and Lionsgate alongside us to bring this historic piece of popular culture to the big screen.”
Barbie was the highest-grossing film of 2023. The team behind the new project will no doubt be hoping for similar success with a board game blockbuster, rather than just Monopoly money.