After four yeas of G.I Joe and Transformers-related success, Hasbro’s multi-picture deal with Universal is ending fast. This week, Relativity Media picked up the pieces of a broken Universal-produced Stretch Armstrong movie, and now here comes Sony Pictures with a proposition of their own. The studio reportedly wants to take the reins on a live-action imagining of Hasbro’s classic board game Candy Land, a deal that would include Adam Sandler in the starring role. [THR]
While the involvement of Sandler and his production company Happy Madison makes me wonder how much bodily humor will befall the residents of Molasses Swamp and the Gumdrop Mountains — not to mention the all the juvenile jokes surrounding the unfortunately named Gramma Nutt — Sony’s recent track record for making lucrative kiddie movies is undeniable. The studio’s live-action version of The Smurfs pulled in around $564 million worldwide last year, and they’re banking on more success with a sequel set to come out in 2013.
Negotiations aren’t final yet, but it should be interesting to see how much other studios will benefit from picking up Universal’s slack.
Do you think Sandler belongs in Candy Land?