Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
Almost anything we progeeks are into can be considered a form of publishing. Knowing this is important to our careers.
That may sound strange when your interest doesn't come out as a book or a magazine, so stick with me here as I take a look at just what publishing is.
So, yes, there will be a Risk movie. And a Monopoly movie. There's the failed attempt at Thundercats that looked actually cool, but films as we've seen are really working to create effort-free Multimedia synergy. Or to put it more crassly – grab a name, slap a film on it, profit from the free publicity and associations.
I am sure people will see the aforementioned films and others out of various reasons, from buying the publicity to morbid curiosity. Some may even make money or provide interesting experiments (the Monopoly film may do so). However, I think those behind the films are missing something.
Namely, a longer-term plan that builds interest, community, and long-term involvement.
As soon as the whole Disney/Marvel mess was announced, there was talk of Fox doing a new Fantastic Four film. Of course I suspect that was a case of wanting to assert their current rights, but it has had me thinking.
The second recent Hulk film was sort of sequel, sort of reboot. There's talk of a new origin-of-Superman film. A new Fantastic Four Movie doesn't seem unlikely. We just had a GI Joe movie.
I've wondered if the recent rush to superheroic/SF-ish movies, the desire to maximize properties, and the fact only some of the big superhero/SF/nostalgia properties have big name recognition means that past a certain point people will stop caring.