Mattel Films and Blumhouse Productions are teaming up to create a live-action feature film based on the iconic Magic 8 Ball.
Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare) will direct from a screenplay he’s currently penning with collaborators Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach. This isn’t the first foray into bringing an iconic toy and game property to the screen for Blumhouse, who previously launched films based on Hasbro’s Ouija. The independent powerhouse recently produced the Halloween reboot and has a history of successful franchises with Paranormal Activity, The Purge, and Insidious, among others.
“As fans of Mattel and their iconic brands, we’re looking forward to bringing Magic 8 Ball, one of their most celebrated toys, to life, and playing against expectations in doing so,” says Jason Blum, founder of Blumhouse Productions. “We look forward to partnering with Mattel Films to put this project on the fast track to the big screen and create a memorable experience for moviegoers.”
Mattel Films has six announced films in development, including plans to create feature films based on Mattel’s Barbie and Hot Wheels with Warner Bros., Masters of the Universe with Sony Pictures, and American Girl and View-Master with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM). Mattel Television is also ramping-up plans for 22 animated and live-action series based on 20 properties in the Mattel portfolio.
“Since the 1950s, Magic 8 Ball has inspired imagination, suspense, and intrigue across generations. This iconic toy has a built-in connection with fans and untapped potential for storytelling,” says Robbie Brenner of Mattel Films. “There are no partners better suited to tell the Magic 8 Ball story in collaboration with Mattel Films than Jeff Wadlow and Blumhouse Productions, whose unique approach to the thriller genre has captivated audiences worldwide and has gained widespread accolades.”
