Margot Robbie sets her sights on another toy. The producer and “Barbie” star is directing a Monopoly movie, with Hasbro and Lionsgate behind it, the companies announced Wednesday at the CinemaCon conference in Las Vegas.
It was Robbie and his production company LuckyChap that got “Barbie” to the finish line after many years of stagnant development. The film dominated the box office in 2023 with over $1.4 billion in worldwide ticket sales. And now they’re going to bring that vision to the classic board game.
Lionsgate is also developing a new “The Blair Witch Project” with the horror experts at Blumhouse, the studio behind “The Purge” and “M3GAN.” It will be the first in a multi-year pact between Jason Blum’s company and Lionsgate, drawing on titles from the studio’s library.
The first “Blair Witch” was released in 1999 and became a box office phenomenon. It grossed $248 million, spawned two sequels, and changed the look of many horror films to follow.
Margot Robbie is so happy that her fans are resonating with America Ferrera’s “Barbie” monologue.
“I am a great admirer of the ‘Blair Witch Project,’ which introduced the idea of found footage horror to the general public and became a true cultural phenomenon,” Blum said in a statement. “I don’t think there would have been ‘paranormal activity’ if there hadn’t been a ‘Blair Witch’ first, so this seems like a really special opportunity and I can’t wait to see where that leads.”
Lionsgate had a strong 2023, with films like “John Wick 4,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents” and “Saw X” and is optimistic about its upcoming theatrical releases, including the long-delayed “Borderlands.” Eli Roth’s adaptation of the popular video game series is scheduled for theatrical release in August.
Starring Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ariana Greenblatt, “Borderlands” was first announced in 2015 and wrapped filming in 2021, but faced behind-the-scenes issues and delays. But Roth and Greenblatt were overwhelmingly positive about their experience on stage at Caesar’s Palace.
“We had an unforgettable time making it and I think audiences are going to love it,” Roth said. “It was this crazy, fun, weird, dysfunctional functional family.”
Greenblatt, who filmed “Borderlands” before “Barbie,” took the stage with Roth and said it was the best time she had ever had on set.
The company also has a new version of “The Crow,” directed by “Snow White and the Huntsman” director Rupert Sanders and starring Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs, which hits theaters Aug. 23.
Brandon Lee starred in the original film, which was based on the comic book series and released in 1994. Lee died during filming after being shot with a prop gun containing a makeshift bullet instead of blanks. The director of that film, Alex Proyas, criticized the idea of remaking it.
Henry Cavill also took the stage to talk about a new “Highlander” movie he’s making with “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski, as well as a new Guy Ritchie action pic starring Jake Gyllenhaal called ” In the Grey” and scheduled for 2025.
Aziz Ansari gave exhibitors a sneak peek at his new film “Good Fortune,” which he wrote, directed and stars in alongside Keanu Reeves, who plays an angel, and Seth Rogen.
“I have to thank all the exhibitors who left the strip club this morning to come to the Lionsgate presentation,” Ansari joked.
“Good Fortune” is about a down-on-his-luck guy who changes his life with a more successful man and learns the false lesson that money solved all his problems. Ansari said he wanted to make a comedy specifically for the big screen.
“It means the world to make a film that will be shown in theaters,” he said.
“Good Fortune” does not yet have a release date.
Fogelson closed the presentation with a look at Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael.” Producer Graham King, whose credits include “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “The Departed,” took the stage to talk about the film, which is currently being filmed.
“I can’t wait to give audiences a thrilling adventure they’ve never seen before,” King said.
He said it was an “inside look at the most prolific artist of all time” and promised the film would “tackle it all”, including his public and private life. The film will include 30 Jackson songs and performance recreations.
Jaafar Jackson stars in “Michael,” scheduled for April 2025.
Other upcoming Lionsgate films include Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” which opens next week, Renny Harlin’s horror film “The Strangers-Chapter 1,” in May, Halle Berry’s thriller “The Strangers-Chapter 1.” Never Let Go” in September and “The Best Christmas”. Pageant Ever” in November.
The studio is also currently in production on Mel Gibson’s action film “Flight Risk,” starring Mark Wahlberg, and is finishing the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina,” starring Ana de Armas, which will be released next year.
“We’re sorry for asking you all to wait another year,” Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson said. But it gave audiences a first look, teasing the ballerina’s explosive entrance into the world, complete with fire, swords and an appearance from Reeves.
“I think it will be worth the wait.”
NBC Chicago
