Peter Berg to direct Battleships - Hit or Miss?

Peter Berg is in talks to direct a big-screen version of the Hasbro board game, Battleships, for Universal.

While plot details are not currently forthcoming, the studio is looking to make an epic naval action adventure.

Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir are producing for Hasbro. Dylan Clark and Anikah McLaren are overseeing for the studio.

Actor turned filmmaker Berg has directed Very Bad Things, The Rundown, Friday Night Light, The Kingdom and Hancock.

The script is being written by the Hoeber brothers who wrote "Whiteout," the upcoming Kate Beckinsale thriller based on the comic book, and penned Summit's comic-book adaptation "Red," which has Bruce Willis is in talks to star.

Universal has several board game titles in development as part of its six-year deal with Hasbro. "Ouija Board" is being produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes shingle, "Candy Land" has Kevin Lima attached to direct with Etan Cohen writing the script, and Ridley Scott is developing a project based on "Monopoly."

Source: THR

I've included the bit from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey as I just love Death's reaction to playing Battleships.

Discuss in the forum

HOME

Tom Hanks is space bound as Major Matt Mason

Universal is developing Major Matt Mason, a live-action feature based on the vintage Mattel action figure as a starring vehicle for Tom Hanks. Graham Yost is writing the script.

According to Variety, the toy line originated in 1966; Mason led an astronaut team that worked on the moon and lived in a space station. The toy was a hit in the buildup to the first manned moon mission. Mattel retired the line in the 1970s.

When Mattel execs Tim Kilpin and Barry Waldo came to Playtone for a meeting, they brought an arsenal of the Matt Mason figures. Hanks came armed with his own.

No production date has been set.

Yost's script credits include "Speed." He and Hanks explored moon matter when Hanks was an executive producer of the HBO mini "From the Earth to the Moon," with Yost serving as supervising producer and writer of two episodes. Yost has also been a writer or producer for Hanks and Goetzman on the Playtone-produced HBO minis "Band of Brothers," "John Adams" and "The Pacific."

Mattel is teamed with Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver on "He-Man and Masters of the Universe," which will be directed by "Kung Fu Panda" co-director John Stevenson, and "Hot Wheels," which moved from Sony.

Universal adds the film project to several toy-based movie projects the studio has percolating with Hasbro, with a "Stretch Armstrong" film being written by Steve Oedekerk, "Monopoly" with Ridley Scott, "Candyland" with "Tropic Thunder" scribe Etan Cohen and director Kevin Lima, and the Platinum Dunes-produced "Ouija."

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME - Discuss in the Forum

The Random - Green Lantern, Three Stooges, Stephen King, Book of Eli, Candy Land, The Cross

Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Goldeneye, Vertical Limit, Edge of Darkness) is in talks to direct a big screen adaptation of the DC comic book series The Green Lantern according to Variety. The screenplay was penned by Greg Berlanti (Everwood, Eli Stone), Marc Guggenheim (Law & Order, Eli Stone) and Michael Green (Smallville, Heroes).Who could play Hal Jordan?

Just Jared have the word that the Farrelly Brothers want Johnny Depp and Sean Penn as Moe and Larry, respectively, in their Three Stooges movie.

Stephen King isn’t a fan of Twilight author Stephanie Meyer. King tells USA Weekend that while both Rowling and Meyer are “speaking directly to young people, The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”

Michael Gambon (Harry Potter, The Good Shepherd) has joined the cast of the post-apocalyptic thriller The Book of Eli for Warner Bros. Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter

Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) will write and Kevin Lima (Enchanted) will direct a live-action feature based on the Hasbro board game Candy Land for Universal Pictures reports Variety.

Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean), Vincent Cassel (Eastern Promises, Ocean's 12) and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Hitman) are set to star in the Australia-France-Germany co-production The Cross reports Variety. Set against the backdrop of a futuristic border town, Bloom plays a man seeking to cross a mysterious border, something no one else has achieved. Cassel, meanwhile, is the guard who will go to any lengths to foil him. Kurylenko takes the female lead. Andrew Niccol (Lord of War, Gattaca) will direct.

Discuss in the Forum