Universal Pictures is going back to school, specifically Mattel's Monster High, as the studio and toy manufacturer team up for a movie produced by Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The American multimedia-supported fashion doll line was created by toy designer Garrett Sander, which Mattel launched in 2010. It centered around characters inspired by monster movies such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman, as they navigate teenage and high school life, while attending Monster High. This is the latest deal Mattel has struck with Hollywood studios featuring their IPs after Barbie's $1.446 billion success last year.
Monster High goes to the movies
Mattel Films chief Robbie Brenner said, “Monster High helps fans discover the great beauty in being true to yourself and celebrates the unique sensibilities at the core of who we are as individuals. We’re proud to partner with Universal Pictures and the brilliant Akiva Goldsman to usher this important message to audiences worldwide.”
There are no directors or writers currently announced or rumored to be part of the project. Goldsman, who earned his Oscar in 2020 for best adapted screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, is attached as the film's producer through his Weed Road banner. He is also developing a Major Matt Mason film for Tom Hanks.
“I've been fascinated by Monster High since my daughters were obsessed with the dolls as kids. I'm thrilled to once again join forces with Robbie Brenner and our friends at Mattel to help bring this iconic property to life,” he said.
Monster High has been previously adapted into a series format for Nickelodeon and Paramount+. A live-action movie was released in 2022, Monster High: The Movie.
Mattel parlays Barbie success to other IPs
Mattel has a number of high-profile names attached to its projects including Daniel Kaluuya for Barney, Vin Diesel for Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, J.J. Abrams for Hot Wheel. More recently, it has partnered with Amazon MGM Studios for Masters of the Universe, which announced that The Idea of You star Nicholas Galitzine has been cast as He-Man.
Other properties it's currently developing are American Girl, Bob the Builder, Magic 8 Ball, Polly Pocket, Thomas & Friends, UNO, View-Master and Wishbone.
Mattel's Kevin McKeon and Arthur Thur De Koos and Weed Road's Greg Lessans are overseeing Monster High. Universal Pictures' SVP of production Lexi Barta and creative executive of production Jacqueline Garrell are overseeing for Universal.
The Monster High franchise has become very popular among children and financially successful for Mattel with its $1 billion worth in only its third year of existence, selling $500 million annually. It became the second best-selling doll brand in North America. In 2013, a spin-off toy line was launched, Ever After High, with characters based on fables and fairy tales. In 2017, another spinoff, Enchantimals was launched, based on human-animal hybrids.
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