Hasbro lining up top talent for film adaptations including Brian Grazer producing Stretch Armstrong, Gore Verbinski directing Clue, Michal Bay helming Ouija and Ridley Scott directing Monopoly

Universal and Hasbro jointly announced that the first feature film to be released under Universal and Hasbro’s six-year partnership, Stretch Armstrong, has been dated for theatrical release on April 15, 2011.

They also announced Academy Award winning producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster) will team with Hasbro to bring the iconic action figure to life for the silver screen. Steve Oedekerk (Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty) is writing the screenplay for the action adventure based on the toy that was made popular around the world beginning in the 1970s and re-launched in the 1990’s. Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir will also produce.

Stretch Armstrong is an iconic toy that kids around the world enjoyed stretching up to four feet before returning to his original shape. Through the years, the product line stretched into a wide range of toys and supporting characters that built upon the Stretch Armstrong legacy by allowing kids to “stretch their imaginations” with play experiences unique to the Stretch Armstrong brand.

Universal Pictures and Hasbro formed the partnership in 2008 to produce at least four motion pictures based on Hasbro’s brands. Currently in development are Monopoly, with Ridley Scott set to produce and direct and Pamela Pettler writing the screenplay; Candyland, with Kevin Lima to direct based on a script from Etan Cohen; Clue, with Gore Verbinski to produce and direct; Ouija, with Michal Bay to produce; and Battleship, with Peter Berg to direct from a screenplay by Jon and Erich Hoeber.