'Play-Doh': Jon M. Chu Eyed To Direct Animated Film For eOne

As studios have strip-mined comic books and the superhero genre to death, different types of content like video game IP and more traditional toy brands are becoming more and more critical to their longevity. Classic toy adaptations have always been on the table: the “Transformers” franchise continuing to churn, a live-action “Barbie” movie at Warners is on the way, and a new “Masters of The Universe” film at Netflix is about to shoot later this year. However, sometimes you have to try and get really creative with a brand that seems to have little narrative on the surface. Thus, an animated film based on the iconic “Play-Doh” toy is now in development and could make for a fun kids’ movie.

Deadline reports that “Big Sick” co-writer Emily V. Gordon has been tasked to pen an original film for eOne and Hasbro based on the “Play-Doh” brand with Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) set to produce and possibly direct as well.

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Has Hollywood run out of ideas? While skeptics scoff loudly, with some solid imagination, a string of “Play-Doh” movies could be just as popular and inventive as the LEGO animated films that include feature releases such as “The LEGO Movie,” “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,” “The LEGO Batman Movie,” and “The Lego Ninjago Movie.”

The studio also recently got its hands on properties such as “Power Rangers” and “My Pet Monster.” A new live-action “Rangers” movie is in the works. The latter could be perfect source material for another animated project, given it had an animated series that first aired in 1986 with an adorable take on the gruesome plush doll.

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Another high-profile eOne/Hasbro project on the horizon is Paramount’sDungeons & Dragons,” which is set for release on March 3, 2023. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley from “Game Night” direct with a cast including Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Rodriguez.