Mattel, riding high on Barbie’s billion-dollar success, is now developing a Whac-A-Mole movie . Because when you think of compelling narratives and emotional depth, your mind naturally drifts to… hitting plastic moles with a mallet. That’s right, Deadline is reporting that Mattel is teaming with TriStar Pictures to develop a live-action/animated film based on its classic game Whac-A-Mole.
No word on the plot of the feature take, but is this really a cinematic universe they need to expand? Elizabeth Bassin and Steve Spohr are overseeing for Mattel Films, alongside Shary Shirazi and Kelseigh Coombs for TriStar.
“Whac-A-Mole is more than a game,” said Mattel Films President Robbie Brenner, “it’s a laugh-out-loud battle of reflexes that has brought joy and a little chaos to families for five decades. We’re beyond excited to team up with TriStar Pictures to turn the iconic experience into a wild, action-packed ride for the big screen.”
Commented TriStar President Nicole Brown, “Mattel continues to create impact with their films, and Whac-A-Mole is no exception – a brand that has been in culture for generations. We look forward to partnering with them to bring audiences a fresh, unexpected take on this absolute classic.”
Unlike Barbie or even the upcoming Hot Wheels film, which have rich histories and fanbases, Whac-A-Mole is an arcade game with as much storyline as a game of Pong . It’s hard to imagine audiences forming deep connections with characters based on a game that’s essentially about reflexes and frustration.
This move feels less like creative storytelling and more like a corporate strategy meeting gone awry: “Barbie worked; what’s next? Whac-A-Mole? Sure, why not?”
***
Todd Fisher
Todd lives in Northern California with "the wife," "the kids," "the dogs," "that cat," and he occasionally wears pants. His upcoming release, "Are You Woke Enough Yet?", is the culmination of too much time on social media and working in the film industry.
English (US) · 