Universal Pictures and Hasbro Strike Deal

There have been movies made based on real people, books-even action figures. Now there might be a movie based on a board game coming to a theater near you.

According to Variety, Universal Pictures has entered into a six-year partnership with Hasbro to produce at least four films based on branded properties. Monopoly, Clue, Ouija, Battleship, Magic: The Gathering and Stretch Armstrong are among the properties included in the deal. After the Hasbro property Transformers became a concept for a successful movie directed by Michael Bay for Dreamworks and Paramount, it seems natural for Universal Pictures to want to try to create that success with other Hasbro games and toys.

Universal Pictures now has exclusive access to Hasbro properties except for Transformers and G.I. Joe. Paramount is already behind making the film G.I. Joe, which is to be released in 2009 and is directed by Stephen Sommers.

Over the years, several Hasbro properties have been developed into features, the most current being Monopoly, which Ridley Scott and Scott Free have been working on.