The toy company has teamed up with Columbia Pictures to develop the children game-adapted film, in which Sandler is set to star in and co-write the script along with Robert Smigel.
- Feb 1, 2012
AceShowbiz - Hot on the heels of the news that Hasbro has teamed up with Relativity Media to make a feature film for "Stretch Armstrong", it is now reported that the company is partnering with Columbia Pictures to create the big screen take on its other toy, "Candy Land". On a press release issued on Tuesday, January 31, the toy giant announced that Adam Sandler has been tapped to tackle the lead role in its new project.
Sandler will not only star in it, but he is also expected to co-write the script along with Robert Smigel. The two will replace scribe duo Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who were originally attached to the movie project. As for the director, "Enchanted" helmer Kevin Lima is set to serve behind the lens.
Of the new gig, President of Columbia Pictures Doug Belgrad said, "Candy Land is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love. The world of Candy Land offers an extraordinary canvas upon which to create a fantastical, live-action family adventure film with a larger than life part for Adam. We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro and Happy Madison on this project."
Hasbro President and CEO Brian Goldner added, "The creative talent on board for this movie is amazing and we are excited to bring alive the world of Candy Land for kids and families everywhere. Sony/Columbia has been a wonderful creative partner as we develop another of our games, 'Risk', for the big screen. We are looking forward to working with Sony/Columbia and Adam Sandler and his team at Happy Madison Production on this film."
"Candy Land" is a live-action epic which centers on the adventure of a group, who try to find the lost king of Candy Land. The gang travel through such locales as the Candy Cane Forrest and Gum Drop Mountain.
The game-adapted movie project was initially developed at Universal Pictures, but the studio later ditched this Hasbro film. This was not the first time Universal dropped a partnership with Hasbro. The studio had previously scrapped plans to make Hasbro movies, such as "Stretch Armstrong", "Ouija" and "Clue". Its only latest partnership with the toy company is on "Battleship", which will open in the U.S. on May 18.
