15 Years Ago, Ridley Scott’s Genius Plan for a Blockbuster Pop Culture Movie Revealed!

Ridley Scott isn’t typically known for directing films based on existing intellectual properties; instead, the director tends to adapt novels or craft original stories that evolve into multi-billion dollar franchises. However, according to Seth Rogen, who co-created and stars in Apple TV+’s new hilariously satirical series about the Hollywood industry system, “The Studio,” Scott once approached him with a wild idea for a film based on a pop culture icon. What did he want to turn into a “whimsical” movie? The board game Monopoly!

In an interview with Variety to promote “The Studio,” Seth Rogen disclosed that Ridley Scott was once set to direct a Monopoly movie, which inspired one of the funniest jokes in the series’ first episode. In “The Studio,” Rogen, who portrays the newly appointed studio head Matt Remick, is tasked with finding a director for his Kool-Aid movie, leading him to Martin Scorsese. For many, the notion of Scorsese directing a Kool-Aid film seems like a fever dream, but it was inspired by a real-life pitch.

“Evan [Goldberg] and I had a meeting about Monopoly about fifteen years ago, and Ridley Scott was supposed to direct it. It was going to be a sophisticated Monopoly film. That’s where part of the joke came from.”

Rogen even recalled some of Scott’s visions for his Monopoly film: “He said, ‘Imagine a helicopter view of Central Park, looking down on it, then pull up and see all the surrounding buildings, what does it look like? A Monopoly board.’ I thought, ‘Damn, that’s brilliant.’”

A Real Monopoly Movie in the Works

In retrospect, imagining Ridley Scott directing a Monopoly movie, no matter how sophisticated, seems absolutely wild. Yet, Hollywood hasn’t completely shelved the idea. Following the massive success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, a live-action Monopoly movie is once again in development, with John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the directors and writers behind the successful “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” signed on to pen the feature film.

“The Studio” sheds light on Hollywood’s unsettling obsession with intellectual property. Alongside Seth Rogen, the series also stars Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara. In addition to its impressive main cast, the roster of guest stars is enough to fill an Oscars after-party, featuring Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, Greta Lee, Zac Efron, Anthony Mackie, Paul Dano, Adam Scott, Antony Starr, and many others making appearances in the show.

“The Studio” is currently streaming weekly on Apple TV+.