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Adam Sandler And Robert Smigel To Make A Lot Of Money Writing The CANDY LAND Movie For Sony And Hasbro!
Beaks here...
I think the world of Robert Smigel. His run at SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is the stuff of legend; he headed up one of the greatest writing staffs in the history of television while at LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN; he somehow convinced Comedy Central to put the brilliant (and cruelly short-lived) TV FUNHOUSE on the air; and, of course, he gave us Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog. Also, along with the equally amazing Dino Stamatopoulos, he gave me one of the best interviews I've ever posted to this site. Short of suicide bombing an orphanage, he can do whatever the hell he wants as far as I care.
Teaming with Adam Sandler on a big-budget adaptation of the board game CANDY LAND may be a waste of his genius, but it is not suicide bombing an orphanage. Hasbro has been hot to get this film made for years, and they've evidently abandoned their most recent attempt (which I discussed with KUNG FU PANDA writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger) and gone with the hit-factory that is Happy Madison. Sandler will also star and produce.
Smigel also got a writing credit on last year's critically-acclaimed JACK & JILL. I hope he's building up some kind of clout that will allow him to inflict something inspired and wrong on the moviegoing public. I miss his voice.
Here's the press release...
CULVER CITY, Calif., January 31, 2012 – Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison and Hasbro, Inc. are in final talks to develop Candy Land, a live action movie based on the bestselling Hasbro board game with Adam Sandler attached to star, it was jointly announced today by Doug Belgrad, President of Columbia Pictures, Hannah Minghella, President of Production for Columbia Pictures, and Brian Goldner, Hasbro President and CEO. Kevin Lima (Enchanted) is attached to direct the project for the studio with Sandler and Robert Smigel are in talks to write the screenplay.
Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, “Candy Land is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love. The world of Candy Land offers an extraordinary canvas upon which to create a fantastical, live-action family adventure film with a larger than life part for Adam. We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro and Happy Madison on this project.”
“The creative talent on board for this movie is amazing and we are excited to bring alive the world of Candy Land for kids and families everywhere,” Goldner added. “Sony/Columbia has been a wonderful creative partner as we develop another of our games, Risk, for the big screen. We are looking forward to working with Sony/Columbia and Adam Sandler and his team at Happy Madison Productions on this film.”
Candy Land is one of the most beloved and best known games of all time. Created in 1949, it has been played by generations of families. In the game, players go on a magical journey through fantastical lands made of candy, sweets, and ice cream: the Peppermint Forest, the Gum Drop Mountains, and the Lollypop Woods. Along the way, players encounter such iconic characters as Princess Frostine, Lord Licorice, Mr. Mint, and King Candy.
The project will be produced by Goldner (Transformers) and Hasbro’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Motion Pictures, Bennett Schneir (Battleship) along with Happy Madison Productions. At Columbia, development of Candy Land will be overseen by Sam Dickerman.
Readers Talkback
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that is all.
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So that being said he could make wonder bread the movie and I'm there.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 3:32 p.m. CST
Sandler will go down as one of the most overrated nontalented hacks ever. Not far behind is Will Ferrel. Almost neck and neck. Depending on who puts out more crap.
by GQTaste26
Depending on who puts out more crap.
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...Get pounded into the coffin that is Adam Sandler's career. Did this site change it's name to What The Fuck News or what. Who cares. Fuck.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 3:33 p.m. CST
Sandler is great, but that last 94-95 season of SNL is among the 5 worst.
by hst666
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Jan. 31, 2012, 3:36 p.m. CST
And when you thought Hollywood cant get any lower than it is already
by KilliK
BANG.It manages once again to prove you wrong.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 3:36 p.m. CST
From the people that brought you "Transformers", "Just Go With It," "Battleship," and "Grown-Ups!"
by cinemixtape.com
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Yeah, the guy that invented a style of comedy is a hack...good one.
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fact.
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In what bizzaro universe ? It was trashed by any being with a brain.
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Adam Sandler? His movies NEVER make money! WTF!? Goldner needs to pull his head out of his ass and worry about making toys and leave the medium of tv and film to those who know what the fuck they're doing.
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He never invented anything, no style of comedy. He is almost devoid of talent. He trades on being the loud boorish guy you hated having in your class in junior high. He IS active in some charities, and he does spend time for some worthwhile causes, so, he may be a fine fella. But he didn't invent any kind of comedy, he is no innovator
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and he said he's a faggot.
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John Candy's dead. He would have made a great Mr. Mint
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lawl!
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Jan. 31, 2012, 4:01 p.m. CST
I actually had a lengthy conversation w/ Smigel recently
by captaincosmos
And you guys should all hold your vitriol on this, cause what he and Sandler are actually trying to do is sneak in a very subversive, dark allegory about Youth Drug Culture with this project. "Candy Land" -- get it? For instance, "Lollipop Woods" is an infamous glory hole in a men's room in a Greenwich Village. "Princess Frostine" is a teenage tranny prostitute who's specialty is giving BJs with a mouthful of crystal-meth. And of course "King Candy" is the Fagin-esque dealer/pimp whose clutches our young "heroins" attempt to escape from. Based on what he laid out, it'll be epic in its bad taste and visual depravity. Let's hope they can sneak the final cut past those dumb fucks at the studio. Oh, and as far as the Happy Madison empire goes -- the real "man behind the curtain" of that operation? Rob Schneider. Sandler and the rest of those guys all clean that dude's balls at the snap of his little fingers. Little known fact there.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 4:02 p.m. CST
SELL OUT, SELL OUT, SELL OUT, SELL OUT, SELL OUT, SELL OUT, SELL OUT
by Joe Plumber
Triumph would poop on this!
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Oh man, this is fucked up. Sandler is god damn delusional (as is everyone involved in this project). The dude must either be so full of himself that he thinks he can make garbage like this into something watchable. Or he's a total money whore and will do anything (as his last couple of movies have proved). Maybe it's a crazy mixture of both. All I know is that adaptations like this, shitty remakes, propaganda/corporate advertising-heavy movies, and Sandra Bullock are what's wrong with the industry today. And jesus Robert Smigal, I know you're friends with Sandler, and you need to make money so you can fund whatever awesomeness in the future, but you're better on your own and above shit like "Candy Land". There's other ways to make money dude. I can see an R-rated totally dirty fucked up version of Candy Land being somewhat entertaining when you're high and watching it on a dvd at 2 in the morning (like something weird on Adult Swim) , but you know this is not that movie. This is going to be a shit-cake with a candy corn turd center covered in diarrhea frosting.
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That would be EPIC... <br> <br> <br> not! <br> <br> <br>
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Sounds more fun than this. And sensible.
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I mean you referenced Jack and Jill in a good light.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 4:42 p.m. CST
How is Sandler even allowed to make movies after Jack and Jill?
by Mugato5150
I mean WTF? People in real jobs get fired after committing a real job-equivalent abortion to that film.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 5:04 p.m. CST
Wait, wasn't there already an announcement about a Candyland film being written by a different team of screenwriters?
by lv_426
They said something along the lines of their Candyland will be an epic Lord of the Rings scale fantasy adventure or some such bullshit.
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that's the amount of pain i get from watching Sandler films. PEOPLE- if you stop going to Sandler films he won't be able to make them. actually i don't blame him.... i blame the studios.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 5:06 p.m. CST
I guess the epic Lord of the Rings scale Candyland was too expensive
by lv_426
http://www.slashfilm.com/candyland-called-the-lord-rings-candy/ Writer Jonathan Aibel, who has been concocting the script with Glenn Berger, told EW, We envision it as Lord of The Rings, but set in a world of candy… We don’t see it as a movie based on a board game, although it has characters from that world and takes the idea of people finding themselves in a world that happens to be made entirely of candy where there are huge battles going on… We are going for real comedy, real action, and real emotions at stake.
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People HAVE stopped going to Adam Sandler films if Jack and Jill is any indication. But they cook the books so much that Jack and Jill supposedly cost $79 mill to make so to guys like Sandler, making movies is just a money laundering scheme.
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You owe it to yourself to read Carlton Mellick III's Cannibals of Candyland. They should use it as the basis of this movie. It would be brilliant.
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Starring Tony Todd. That's the only version of this I want to see.
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...a facepalm jpeg.
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Kindly go fuck yourselves. And you wonder why tickets sales were down this year?
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Jan. 31, 2012, 6:38 p.m. CST
From the Director of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong and The Hobbit comes... Playful Penguin Race: The Movie
by darthadv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYWGkFXQHO0
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Even awesome-o would think this idea sucks.
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They have too much money and time on their hands just decided to fuck with the public.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 6:52 p.m. CST
Sandler won't tie himself to a singular brand...
by Shut the Fuck up Donny
...as it cuts off his ability in the movie to whore out other brands. Hasbro's not going to let him push Reese's Pieces, Depends, Redbox, Shasta, and Taxmasters in their 90 minute commercial.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 6:53 p.m. CST
Not that I would see this anyway, but Hasbro has gotten enough of my money
by MooseMalloy
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Will Covert play the molasses blob? Swardson as a gay gingerbread man?
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Jan. 31, 2012, 6:57 p.m. CST
Also, Smigel shouldn't be in front of the camera (puppet hand excluded) --
by MooseMalloy
-- his appearance on CYE was dreadful.
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only 79mil... no way. if male Sandler got 20 and femme Sandler got 20 you're telling me the remainder of this film was made for only 39 mil?! now imagine a 74 year old Sandler doing these same type genre movies... just think about that.
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Again...WTF?!?! Really??? And by acclaimed, you mean ripped apart?
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Crap.
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Look, a couch...Let's make a movie about couches
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Jan. 31, 2012, 7:32 p.m. CST
Is this some kind of secret game? Find the BS? Here's my scorecard:
by Jon
Big-budget Adaptation - Because you need $200M to do a Candyland movie properly? Hit Factory Happy Madison - That's a little generous. Critically-acclaimed "Jack & Jill" - WTF?!?!? Does "acclaimed" have any negative connotation that I'm not aware of? Bonus points for this line from the press release - “Candy Land is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love." Nope. It's just a freaking game.
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I'm sure you do.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 7:34 p.m. CST
And Hollywood wonders why theater attendance is at a 16 year low....
by Orbots Commander
....according to yesterday's NY Times. Of course, an increase in ticket prices and concession costs and a crappy economy aren't helping matters.
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That's quite a marque.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 8:02 p.m. CST
3% on rotten tomatoes is not critically acclaimed
by CreamCheeseAlchemist
I hope they go with the LOTR one because 1, Adam Sandler sucks and 2, candy landscapes require finesse not to look like a stomach ache waiting to happen
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...that my cynicism meter had reached its max when they announced they were making a Candyland movie in the first place. Then I hear the old writing team's been fired and replaced with Happy Madison, and realize how wrong I was. Hollywood just went to 11, as it were. Is it possible for something to be so bad it becomes good? Because this is shaping up to be a craptasterpiece. Oh and seeing as this is another "Hasbro Studios" product, I assume we can expect some alien robots? It's been a while since I played the game but I think they were somewhere past the Candy Cane Forest.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 8:53 p.m. CST
NOTHING SAYS "LIVE-ACTION FAMILY ADVENTURE FILM" LIKE ROBERT SMIGEL.
by Buck Turgidson
Actually, I get why they want Smigel now. Smigel gets smart-ass/whimsical. My first reaction was, LOVE SMIGEL BUT, WTF? SMIGEL'S SOMETHING I WATCH HIGH WITH MY FRIENDS--I WOULDN'T LET MY 4 AND 7 YR-OLDS (WHO DIG CANDYLAND) ANYWHERE NEAR A SANDLER-SMIGEL CANDYLAND MOVIE. Smigel's a bold choice, but can he keep his foul, fantastic, snarkiness in-check enough for a studio and their corporate minders? Gotta be a nice payday for Smigel--you know that was part of the decision process (and can you blame him?). Now if it were an R-rated Candyland... that might pique my interest.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 9:09 p.m. CST
FOR THE WHINY AICN ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKS: HAPPY MADISON PRODS. HAS TWELVE MOVIES THAT HAVE GROSSED OVER $100 MILLION, AND SIX OVER $200 MILLION. YOU THINK THEY GIVE A FUCK WHETHER YOU OR CRITICS LIKE THEIR MOVIES?
by Buck Turgidson
They're crying all the way to the bank AND building the Happy Madison empire in the process: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Madison
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Jan. 31, 2012, 9:11 p.m. CST
Pretty sure Beaks was being sarcastic about Jack and Jill.
by kisskissbangbang
Guess that tone-deafness bug is going around.
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These people think they shit gold. The guy up there that said they think they're the next Marvel Studios is spot on. Guess what, Hasbro? You've only got about three properties you can exploit this way. TRANSFORMERS. Bay directed the most expensive toy commercial in history and ironically it is so filthy that no decent parent would take their kids to see it. and to a lesser extent: G.I. JOE. Whereas Transformers was Bay jerking off to the US Military for 3 hours (in an another ironic twist), the movie that SHOULD be doing JUST THAT is too chickenshit P.C. to do so, giving us a forgettable, multi-national mess. and to a much lesser extent: MY LITTLE PONY. It's got some vocal fans, but I doubt there's really enough of them to make a film break even. Although the thought of some hack like Brett Ratner trying to do the show in live-action amuses me. And THAT IS ALL YOU'VE GOT, HASBRO. The last I heard your TV network was failing, too. Maybe you're too busy trying to censor the word "Gobo" out of Fraggle Rock to notice.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 9:22 p.m. CST
buck turgidson, Adam Sandler still isn't going to fuck you
by Mugato5150
No matter how you white knight his product placement ads disguised as films.
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...precludes me from ever supporting anything done by Robert Smigel.
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Jan. 31, 2012, 9:52 p.m. CST
Apologies to Beaks. I read that he said it was "critically acclaimed" in the comments, promptly went apeshit on the keyboard.
by Pvt. Duke
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Jan. 31, 2012, 9:52 p.m. CST
So many dopes think Beaks was serious in praise for Jack and Jill
by FrodoFraggins
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Not a complete bomb but it cost $79 mill (for some unknown reason) and made a little over $100 mill not counting marketing. So it wasn't profitable. It might have turned a profit after all the shameless product placement but with a <5% rotten tomatoes rating, I would hope that audiences will be a little more weary with Sandler's next product placement grab.
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Well anyway, Jack and Jill actually didn't make a profit and the fact that everyone hated it will probably impact what he does in the future. Audiences may be stupid but they do eventually learn.
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Feb. 1, 2012, 7:48 a.m. CST
Yeah, Because Ferrell's Land of the Lost Was A Success On Every Level
by Buzz Maverik
Edge it up boys with Sandler's own brand of humor and make it funny for adults (Candy Land cannot be made funny for adults but don't tell these guys).
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If I was drug to this I would gouge out my eyes with a cheap, concessions stand plastic spork
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Obvious missing letter is obvious.
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Feb. 1, 2012, 11:57 a.m. CST
Happy Madison hit factory..as in Bucky Larson:Born To Be A Star, or
by openthepodbaydoorshal
Strange Wilderness, or The Benchwarmers, or Grandma's Boy, or The Hot Chick, or Master Of Disguise, or, or, or......
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Couldn't agree more. One day, scientists and historians will evalaute our culture and learn that Adam Sandler's career was an evolutionary mistake, resulting from lingering collective conscious that tricked us into thinking that, if a lot of people say something is true, then it must actually be true (despite every piece of evidence proving the contrary - like religion). I partially agree with you on Ferrell. While he isn't NEARLY as funny or talented as his success would indicate, he isn't an utterly talentless hack like Sandler (except for Punch Drunk Love - he was good in that).
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Other than the fact his shit can be made dirt cheap and plays well to the under 18 Male, Jewish, Aspergers suffering crowd..there is no reason why this guy should even be living in So. Cal let alone still be making films.
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You need a :-) or a :-/ inserted, 'cause 3% on rottentomatoes.com aint good writing.
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Feb. 1, 2012, 10:06 p.m. CST
The whole movie will be audio of Obama's speeches with cartoons of him punching dancing ponies on the nuts.
by Arcadian Del Sol
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