What do Spider-Man: Homecoming, Game Night, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves have in common? The answer is John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the dynamic duo who've made a name for themselves by turning unlikely concepts into cinematic gold. Now, they're taking on their biggest challenge yet: bringing the cutthroat world of Monopoly to the big screen. But can they turn a game about ruthless capitalism and bankruptcy into a compelling movie?
Daley and Goldstein, who co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming and directed Game Night, are no strangers to high-stakes projects. Their 2023 hit Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves proved they could take a beloved property and infuse it with humor, heart, and blockbuster action. The film grossed over $200 million worldwide and earned rave reviews for its witty script and charismatic cast. Now, they're teaming up with Lionsgate, LuckyChap, and Hasbro Entertainment to tackle Monopoly, a board game that's been a household staple since 1935.
The game itself is a cultural icon, with nearly 1 billion copies sold worldwide. Players buy properties, build houses and hotels, and ruthlessly bankrupt their opponents—all while avoiding the dreaded “Go Directly to Jail” card. But translating this experience into a movie has stumped filmmakers for decades. Ridley Scott and Tim Story were both attached to previous attempts, but none of these projects ever made it past the development stage.
With Lionsgate's recent acquisition of Hasbro's film and TV arm, eOne, the studio now holds the rights to Monopoly. This move signals a renewed commitment to bringing the game to life on screen. Daley and Goldstein's involvement is a promising sign, given their track record of balancing humor and action with emotional depth.
Adapting Monopoly into a movie is no easy feat. The game lacks a built-in narrative, which means Daley and Goldstein will have to craft a story from scratch. Will they go the Jumanji route, with players sucked into the game's world? Or will they take a more satirical approach, exploring themes of greed, ambition, and the American Dream?
As a film critic, I'm cautiously optimistic about this project. Daley and Goldstein have proven they can handle complex properties with care and creativity, but Monopoly presents a unique challenge. The game's lack of a narrative framework means they'll need to invent a story that feels both fresh and faithful to the source material. If they can pull it off, it could be a game-changer (pun intended) for board game adaptations.
What kind of story would you like to see in a Monopoly movie? Should it be a family-friendly adventure, a dark comedy about capitalism, or something entirely different?
