The Festival Of Licensing: Hasbro Related Shows And Movies
by Gary Catig
The Festival of Licensing is a large scale four week gathering that tries to bring together the global licensing industry for networking opportunities and the exchange of ideas. Hasbro is one of the many companies participating and they held a press conference revealing some of their plans in the future with regards to licensing their roster of brands. The company’s VP Consumer Products, EMEA, Marianne James hosted the presentation.
For some of their brands, they are looking to expand their reach outside of toys and games. For example, with Play-Doh, they are pursuing adjacent opportunities in consumer goods leveraging the iconic yellow and red logo and bucket packaging. With NERF, they are going beyond the blaster and exploring apparel, footwear, accessories and much more.
After acquiring studio Entertainment One there is a considerable focus into movie, TV and unscripted formats. One of their upcoming shows is Power Rangers Dino Fury. It will be a modernizing of the franchise for Generation Alpha that is more relatable. It will feature new Morphers, dino-powered weapons, powerful Zords and astonishing Megazords.
Following the success of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Siege on Netflix will be the second installment, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Earthrise. Also, arriving in the summer of 2022 is the 7th Transformers feature film.
The beloved children’s board game, Candyland, is receiving an unscripted competitive baking series for television. It will be released later this year on Food Network and will be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth.
There is plenty of content for preschoolers as well. Favorites, Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Ricky Zoom are all in production and development for new episodes.
For all the bronies, the new animated series, Pony Life, is arriving later this fall and is the follow up to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It will have an entirely new look but feature the same voice actors. It will revolve around the funny side of friendship. Then in 2021, a new My Little Pony movie will be released from Paramount. The film will introduce a new generation of ponies to a new generation of fans. It will consist of a new cast and will be CGI with a new look that is more gorgeous than ever.
Though Hasbro is still considered a toy and game manufacturer, they do have over 34 live projects in the mix for streaming, linear and theatrical viewing. James did tease some entertainment news in the near future with regards to Dungeons & Dragons and that some of the 34 projects will contain brand new IP in addition to already established franchises.
