Hollywood’s current fascination with taking popular toy lines of the past and present and turning them into a movie continues.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the next toy to movie transition will be the popular building toy, the Erector Set.
Helix Films announced yesterday that they are developing a 3-D feature based on the toys.
Meccano Toy Company, which makes the Erector Set, hopes that the toys spark a film franchise, perhaps similar to the success that Disney has achieved with its “Toy Story” movies. Helix, which is developing a script for the film, would expand the franchise to take advantage of ancillary markets as well, including television programs and video games. While the film company has yet to unveil details about the movie’s plot, it will focus on a fantasy adventure story tailored for family entertainment.
“The three partners of Helix Films all grew up playing with Erector Set toys but in different countries—Kevin Foo in Australia, Gaukhar Noortas in Kazakhstan and me and my brother Robert in the U.S.—so our partnership with Meccano is very personal, as well as exciting,” Helix Films’ Steven-Charles Jaffe said today. Jaffe is a movie producer who has made hits like “Ghost” as well as many of Kathryn Bigelow’s films, including “Strange Days,” among others. He adds: “We believe the iconic Erector brand offers generational appeal with global reach, providing a tremendous platform to create a thrilling film franchise that boys, girls and adults will all adore.”
At this point, a movie based on Lincoln Logs is only a few days away….
Please make it stop…
Oh sweet jeebus, I thought you were joking. Why? What kind of plot can they possibly create for metal bits with holes in?
It’s sad and pathetic that this makes me long for Joust….
Coming soon to a theatre near you, Slinky: The Movie!
Marbles: The Final Frontier.
The Wrath of Crayon.
Silly Putty: The Phantom Mess.
Yo Yo: The Revenge of the Fallen
Bill T., you keep talkin’ like that and Hollywood will give you a job. 🙂
Alternate titles for Erector Set The Movie:
“Steam Punk Transformers”
“The Full Erection”
“Nuts and Bolts”
“Batteries Not Included 2”
“Barbie goes McGyver”
Oddly enough, those five titles are also good porn movie titles 🙂 (long boring day at work… don’t ask)
If Frogger the movie happens… I want a check. sigh
@Michael: If the Frogger movie is a musical, you’ll have to split it with Paul & Storm.
Remember they are actually making a Stretch Armstrong movie. I sort of get the marketing of current toy lines to kids through movies and cartoons, but this?
Who even remembers what the !#@$ erector sets were except the over 40 crowd. I remember playing with them when dinosaurs roamed the earth and they sucked ass!
Like I’m gonna drop $10 to see a MOVIE about a sucky toy just to feel nostalgic about my childhood. Someone ought to remind Hollywood most of us are paying our therapists much higher premiums than that to help us FORGET that crap.
Robin… I’m good with that. I’ll share the love. 😉
Michael… Erector Sets sucked? Really? I loved mine and had more than 4 sets. (even had the expansion motor kits)
I’m certain that the Erector set started my love (and career) as a contractor.
Don’t bag on the Erector.
It still sucks as a movie idea tho………..
Hey, now, I’m under 30, and I had an erector set. I had fun with it, just not quite as much fun as with legos. Now, legos – why aren’t they making a movie about those? They’ve already got several video games, you’d think a feature film would be a no-brainer.
@MM
I think Erector sets were too Left Brain for me…my brother – an electrical engineer – loved them.