The history of board game to screen adaptations is mixed at best.For everyClue, there’s every (and I meanevery)Transformersmovie. Now,House of CardscreatorBeau Willimonlooks to add a contribution to the canon. In other words, he’s taking a big…risk.
PerThe Wrap, Willimon will adapt Hasbro’s strategic war gameRiskinto a television series for Entertainment One (aka eOne), Hasbro’s production company arm, alongside Willimon’s producing partnerJordan Tappisthrough their production company Westward (The First). Willimon will write for and oversee production on theRiskseries as part of Westward’s production deal with the studio, which may see more board game-based projects coming from Willimon yet.
No other writers, stars, or networks have been announced forRiskyet, but all parties involved are excited for the show’s potential. “We couldn’t think of more perfect partners than Beau and Jordan — whose award-winning storytelling and imagination are among the best in the business,” saidMichael Lombardo, president of global television at eOne. “In Beau, we’ve found an amazing combination of brilliant producer, singular creator, and avid fan ofRisk. We can’t wait to work with him and the rest of the Westward team to reimagine that brand and so much more.” Willimon and Tappis put out their own statement reading, “All of us at Westward are thrilled to join forces with eOne to bring to life some of the most successful IP in the marketplace as well as partner on our extensive slate of scripted television shows. We’re excited to developRiskas our first project together.”
I know it might be cool, and perhaps warranted, to dunk on another property based on a board game as being more proof that Hollywood has run out of ideas. But hear me out: This one might be good.Riskthe board game is predicated on warfare, on domination, on diplomacy, on secrets, on geopolitical strife — all juicy topics to explore within a globe-trotting military story. Will Hasbro/eOne allow Willimon to get this complicated, this adult in a television show based on a family-friendly board game? I hope so; Willimon has proved, not just inHouse of Cardsbutin films likeThe Ides of March, that he’s at his best when he’s let loose on the corrupt, systemic cynicisms within our most nefarious political machines, and the idea of him applying this lens to global warfare sounds like a recipe to prestige TV success to me.
