Mattel Is Developing a Live-Action View-Master Movie
There have been a number of movies based on toy franchises in recent years that have been announced as being in development, and in some cases actually made and released, that either sounded cool — like a Vin Diesel-led Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots movie that was announced in 2021, and which I have not heard anything further about — or lame (like 2012’s Battleship, a stinker based on the classic board game that did get produced).
The latest announcement of a toy brand poised to be developed into a feature film has me intrigued, given that it relates to one of my favorite items from back in the day: Mattel, with Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Escape Artists production company, is developing a live-action, “four-quadrant family adventure film” based on the iconic View-Master brand.
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1963 image of a View-Master and reels
Since its introduction in 1939, the stereoscopic View-Master device has been a popular childhood staple (and remains one for some adults!) for generations and has taken its fans all over the world with 3-D image reels that have offered everything from travelogues spotlighting far-off places, to adaptations of cartoons and movies, and more.
“View-Master has inspired generations to embark on boundless adventures, offering a treasure trove of storytelling possibilities for this film,” said Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Films, in a release.
“We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Escape Artists’ Todd Black to bring this Mattel franchise to life. Their creative and filmmaking expertise sets the stage to introduce a modern take on this beloved toy to audiences everywhere.”
Remind Also in the release, producer Black spoke to how “View-Master has long been a window to the wonders of the world, sparking imagination in kids and adults alike,” and that they are looking at “the chance to honor that legacy while creating an entirely new adventure for today’s audience. We can’t wait to bring this treasured toy’s sense of exploration to the big screen.”
Courtesy of Mattel
I’ll throw a little idea to the developers/producers of View-Master: The Motion Picture (my working title for the project).
You can’t go wrong, at least not in my book, if you adapt or somehow include within your overall story The Little Yellow Dinosaur, one of my favorite View-Master reels from back in the day, and one I still think about fondly (and look at on occasion).
You can get a sense of how The Little Yellow Dinosaur came across in the nicely put together video below, even if it fails to fully capture the experience of being a kid, putting the View-Master projector up to your eyes and instantly being transported into a 3-D prehistoric world:
And while I’m here, Mattel, here’s another free idea for a can’t-miss feature film based on one of your other toys — a horror movie starring that old Baby Secret doll:
Remind