Back in late 2015, Hasbro Studios started laying the foundation for a cinematic universe based around its toy properties. Months later, a writers room was assembled to hash out ideas, which included Spider-Man: Homecoming writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Since then, though, there's barely been any word about how this particular franchise is coming along, but now according to Daley and Goldstein, it's unlikely that the Rom: Spaceknight and M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) movies will move forward. As Goldstein sees it:
Those are probably not likely to see the light of day, unless they're moving on separate from us. It's a funny thing. We spent three weeks in a room with a lot of talented writers. We broke 11 or so movies and, I don't know. It just kind of went into the vortex. There's been some leadership changes at Paramount, so it's hard to say. Nobody's contacted us about those.
Initially the plan for the Hasbro Cinematic Universe was to create a shared world that included properties like Rom: Spaceknight, M.A.S.K., G.I. Joe and Micronauts. However, it's been nearly two years since all those writers met with one another, and while John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were thankful to that experience, as they informed IGN, they've been kept out of the loop since then. So as they see it, unless Hasbro decides to revive the cinematic adaptations of Rom: Spaceknight and M.A.S.K. with new writers, they're skeptical these projects will happen. Fortunately, the duo potentially have another blockbuster project to keep them busy in the near future. Daley and Goldstein, whose credits also include the Horrible Bosses movies, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Vacation and the upcoming Game Night, are in negotiations to direct Flashpoint. So even though one cinematic universe hasn't worked out yet, if a deal is finalized, they'll be able to lend their talents to another.
As one would expect for Hasbro creations, both Rom: Spaceknight and M.A.S.K. both started out as toys, with Rom later being licensed to Marvel to star in his own comic book and M.A.S.K. being adapted as a short-lived animated series and several video games. Both have also led their own ongoing comic book series at IDW in recent years. Unfortunately for any fans of Rom and/or M.A.S.K., for right now, it sounds like their respective movies are stuck in development hell.
Since the Transformers film series, which continues this December with the release of the Bumblebee spinoff, is being kept separate from this Hasbro Cinematic Universe, that leaves only G.I. Joe and Micronauts as the only Hasbro properties that have had a recent update regarding their theatrical futures. Rather than take place in the same continuity as the previous two G.I. Joe movies, the new entry will be a reboot that hits theaters on March 27, 2020. As for Micronauts, it will be released on October 16, 2020.
Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on how the Hasbro blockbusters are coming along, and check out our 2018 premiere guide to see what's arriving this year.
