Ridley Scott’s Insane ‘Monopoly’ Movie Pitch: Seth Rogen’s Reaction is Priceless!

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Known more for crafting movies from original stories and novels rather than pre-existing Intellectual Properties (IPs), this director’s work often evolves into massive, multi-billion dollar franchises. However, as per Seth Rogen, who co-created and stars in Apple TV+’s humorous critique of Hollywood, Scott once proposed a wild idea for an IP-based film. The potential franchise that Scott aimed to transform into a “refined” movie was none other than… Monopoly!

In an interview with Variety for the promotion of “The Studio”, Seth Rogen shared that at one point, Ridley Scott had been linked to direct a film adaptation of Monopoly, which led to one of the most hilarious moments in the debut episode of the series. In “The Studio”, Rogen’s character, Matt Remick, is a new studio executive who is given the task of finding a director for his Kool-Aid movie. This quest leads him to Martin Scorsese, and while it may seem absurd to many that Scorsese would direct a film about Kool-Aid, this idea was actually based on a real-life incident. Rogen reminisced:

Approximately fifteen years back, Evan Goldberg and I held a discussion regarding a film adaptation of Monopoly, with Ridley Scott slated as the director. The project was quite extravagant, hence the humor in referring to it as a “fancy” version of Monopoly. That’s where part of the joke originated.

Rogen reminisced about Ridley Scott’s concept for a Monopoly movie, stating, “He described it as a helicopter view of Central Park, rising up to see the buildings like pieces on a Monopoly board.” Rogen was impressed, exclaiming, “Wow, that’s brilliant!” Reflecting on this notion, the idea of Scott directing a Monopoly film, despite its potential grandeur, seems utterly extraordinary. However, the dream of a live-action Monopoly movie persists. After the triumph of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, plans for a Monopoly film have resurfaced once more. The latest news disclosed that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, directors of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, will be penning the script.

‘The Studio’ Highlights Hollywood’s Worrying Obsession With IP

The critique of Hollywood studios prioritizing lucrative IPs and blockbuster films by ‘The Studio’ is evident right from its opening scene. In essence, this criticism is encapsulated by Bryan Cranston’s character, a shady studio owner, who states bluntly, “We don’t create art, we produce movies.” This sets the stage for Matt’s challenging journey to find a suitable director for their Kool-Aid film, while simultaneously appeasing his money-minded boss and striving to make a truly excellent movie. Inviting Martin Scorsese in the initial episode was a brilliant tactic, given the renowned director’s perspectives on ‘amusement park’ movies as opposed to authentic cinema.

In addition to Seth Rogen, The Studio features actors such as Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara. Moreover, this stellar cast is joined by a number of guest stars that would make an A-list Oscar party buzz with excitement, including Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, Greta Lee, Zac Efron, Anthony Mackie, Paul Dano, Adam Scott, Antony Starr, and numerous others. Each week, new episodes of The Studio become available on Apple TV+. The show’s description goes as follows:

Matt Remick has recently taken over as the head of Continental Studios. Eager for endorsement from the celebrity world, he and his executive colleagues at the film company find themselves in a delicate balance between satisfying corporate requirements and pursuing artistic aspirations, all while ensuring that their films remain fresh and engaging to the public.

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2025-03-27 15:33