Monster High Live-Action Movie in Development From Mattel and Universal

Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Akiva Goldsman is teaming up with Mattel and Universal for a new live-action Monster High movie. Debuting in 2010 as a line of fashion dolls based on monsters from pop culture, movies, and folklore, Monster High has since become a global sensation, branching off to include a number of entertainment mediums such as animated movies, video games, books, and a web series. Goldsman is the man behind the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind, as well as other high-profile movies and TV series, including The Da Vinci Code (2006), I Am Legend (2007), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022), and the upcoming sequel to Constantine.

As per Deadline, Goldsman will serve as executive producer on Monster High, which has yet to find its screenwriter, or director. Still, Mattel Films’ President, Robbie Brenner, says the company is “proud” to team with Universal and Goldsman to bring Monster High’s important message to life. Check out his comments below.

“
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.”

Monster High

Follows a half human and half werewolf, as she finally finds a place where she fits, but when a plan to destroy Monster High threatens her identity, she must learn her true monster heart and save the day.

Release Date

October 6, 2022

Director

Todd Holland

Cast

Steve Valentine , Ceci Balagot , Case Walker

While the Monster High franchise may have started out as a line of dolls in 2010, an animated web series on YouTube quickly followed their release, which brought the dolls to life and helped kids connect even further with the unique characters. The series follows a group of teenagers in high school who are the children of famous monsters, and have names such as Frankie Stein, Draculaura, Cleo de Nile, and Clawdeen Wolf to reflect their lineage.

The web series, as well as the original toyline, was discontinued in 2018 after declining sales forced it into the grave. You can’t keep a good monster down, though, and it was resurrected in 2020, leading to an animated series that began in 2022 on Nickelodeon that is still ongoing, as well as two live-action musical films that premiered in 2022 and 2023 respectively on Paramount+.

Akiva Goldsman Says He’s “Fascinated” by Monster High

Getting his start in 1994 as the screenwriter for the Joel Schumacher adaptation of the John Grisham novel, The Client, Akiva Goldsman would team with the director several more times for A Time to Kill, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin. In 2001 he partnered with Ron Howard for the Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind, which earned him the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Since then, Goldsman has firmly cemented himself as a writer and producer to be respected, with a legacy that’s second to none.

Monster High marks the second collaboration between Goldsman and Mattel following the previously announced Tom Hanks vehicle, Major Matt Mason. For Goldsman, Monster High is something he’s always had a fascination with thanks to his two daughters.

“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.”

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While we await more details about the forthcoming Monster High movie from Mattel and Universal, you can check out the latest project from Akiva Goldsman, The Crowded Room, which is available to stream on Apple TV+.