Universal and Platinum Dunes Go OUIJA

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2008
Source: Hollywood Reporter

A few months back, Universal and Hasbro announced a new six-year partnership to bring their classic properties to life and it seems that fittingly, the supernatural game Ouji will be one of the first productions. HR is reporting that Platinum Dunes' Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce alongside Universal and Hasbro in adapting the property. Dunes' David Berenbaum is in charge of penning the screenplay and Bennett Schneir, Hasbro's senior vp and managing director of motion pictures will oversee the project for Hasbro.

Plot Concept: Although the specific log line for the film is being kept under wraps, the film will be a supernatural adventure with the Ouija board playing an integral part of the story. The movie is not taking a "Jumanji"-like approach, which involved a game coming to life.

While divination or spiritual boards have been around for centuries, they began being sold as novelty items in the late 1800s, with the first Ouija board, one with an alphabet on it, being patented in 1890. Players' fingers are placed on a small planchette that mysteriously moves to letters and numbers in order to spell out messages from beyond the earthly realm.