Anyone with a daughter can tell you what Monster High is, but for those not in the know, they are Mattel dolls that purport to be the offspring of famous monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and more. They’re hugely popular amongst young children so it’s no surprise that Universal is now headed into production on a live-action film based on the toys.
The project is being developed by Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and is likely to exist independently of the animated direct-to-DVD films that we’ve already seen. Universal’s most recent attempt to turn a toy into a live-action film was 2012’s disastrous Battleship, but this property seems to be a much more film-ready concept than that one was and I think it could turn out to be a lot more successful too.
Schwartz and Savage have a history of producing popular content for teens, starting out together on the primetime teen soap The O.C. before working on Gossip Girl. They are also producers on the upcoming remake of the 1981 teen classic Endless Love, due out on Valentine’s Day. While the supernatural twist that this property offers is a bit outside their wheelhouse, they’ll likely find a way to ground it for mass appeal.
Speaking as someone with two daughters and a house full of Monster High dolls, I can tell you that this film has a built-in audience that will likely turn out in droves for the movie when it is released. Trust me.
No cast has been announced just yet but stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you more news as it develops. For now though, tell us, are you a fan of Monster High and if so, what direction do you think they can take the film in?
