Decades after a movie adaptation with a stellar cast, the popular game Clue is getting the an animated series treatment.
Pancho Mansfield, eOne’s president of global scripted programming and exec producer of the pilot for Netflix’s hit series Queen of the South, announced his entertainment company is developing the series based on the murder mystery board game for Fox Entertainment.
Clue was launched first in the United Kingdom in the 1940s and is now owned and published by the American game and toy company Hasbro. More than 150 million games have been reportedly sold worldwide, including versions in Spanish and Portuguese.
For the development and production of the new series, eOne and Fox have joined Hasbro’s content studio and Bento Box Entertainment, with the latter also serving as the animation studio.
‘ICONIC’ GAME
“We’re thrilled to team up once again with our great partners at Fox and Bento Box on this exciting new series,” said Mansfield in a press statement. “Clue is an iconic whodunit property that exudes mystery and intrigue, and has fans all over the world. We can’t wait to share our reimagined animated version with audiences.” In addition to Queen of the South, Mansfield has worked as an executive producer in few other projects like the series A&E television horror series Demien and the Spike physical reality game show Pros vs. Joes. He is also credited as an executive in a long list of projects, including the TV series Sirens, The Glade, Lights Out, Blade: The Series, Queer as Folk and Resurrection Blvd.
The perennial board game favorite has produced various editions globally in its seven-decade-long history, including eight North American versions.
“‘Colonel Mustard…In the Conservatory…With the lead pipe.’ By just hearing these colorful phrases alone, you immediately know what they mean — leaving no mystery as to why Clue is one of the most beloved board games-turned-IP of all time,” said Michael Thorn, president of entertainment of Fox Entertainment. “We couldn’t be more excited to develop it as an animated series along with eOne and Bento Box.”
ON THE BIG SCREEN
In 1985, the game was adapted into the film Clue, directed by BAFTA winner Jonathan Lynn (The Distinguished Gentleman). The film featured a stellar cast: Academy Award nominees Eileen Brennan (Private Benjamin), Madeline Kahn (Blazing Saddles), Lesley Ann Warren (Victor Victoria) and Michael McKean (A Mighty Wind); Primetime Emmy nominees Tim Curry (Tales From the Crypt), Christopher Lloyd (Taxi) and Martin Mull (Veep); and Lee Ving (Flashdance).
Launched under the name Murder! in 1949, Clue was created by Englishman Anthony E. Pratt, who reportedly did it during WWII to pass the time during lengthy air raid drills. In the game, players try to solve the murder of Mr. Boddy, the host of the game’s “dinner party.” Players must untangle clues to determine who among the party’s six guests–Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlett, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green and Dr. Orchid–committed the crime. There 324 different plots for players to solve. The Hasbro board game is sold in over 30 countries.
