Universal Pictures and Hasbro have announced a six-year strategic partnership to produce four motion pictures based on Hasbro properties such as Monopoly, Magic the Gathering, Candy Land, Clue, Battleship, and Stretch Armstrong.  Under the agreement Universal will have exclusive movie rights to Hasbro properties with the notable exceptions of Transformers and G.I. Joe (both of which have already been licensed for the big screen by Paramount).

 

The first movie from this agreement is slated for release in 2010 or 2011, and Universal will release at least one movie a year thereafter.  The enormous success of Paramount's live action Transformers was undoubtedly the driving force behind this agreement, which will allow Universal to mine Hasbro properties for box office gold.