2023 Update: After eight long years of development and millions spent on script draft after script draft, Manka Bros. has decided to abandon this ambitious project which had the promise of upending “Avatar” as biggest movie franchise ever. Unfortunately, we hired some shitty writers. The rights are now reverted back to… ‘public domain.’ Good luck to the losers to try to take on this turkey.
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Great news!
Following the enormous success of “The LEGO Movie” and the announcement that Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to “Minecraft,” Manka Bros., after an intense negotiation, has acquired the worldwide media rights to Checkers.
That’s right the game we all played as kids (full disclosure – I didn’t play it, I thought it was too boring and stupid).
Since the property is in the public domain and basically anyone can make a movie based on the game, our tough negotiation resulted in us taking the game OUT of the public domain.
So now only Manka Bros. can make a movie based on checker pieces and the checker board.
We are also going to develop a TV series spin-off and games based on the game – as well as consumer product tie-ins and, potentially, a Broadway show.
We will not, however, be allowed to use the phrase “King Me” or “Queen Me” – so we will use the words “Khan Me,” instead.
To start, three movies (either live-action or animated) are being developed simultaneously and will be shot back-to-back-to-back (directors and writers TBD).
Part 1 will be the Checkers origin story
Part 2 will be the middle section of the story
Part 3 will be end part of the trilogy
A big congratulations to Robin Rafe and her team for beating out the other studios. They are really going to regret not going after this one!
We have put a stake in the ground to open the first movie the weekend of September 16, 2016. We should have the weekend to ourselves (with the exception of some crappy Harvey Weinstein-type shit that nobody else wanted).
To all my friends in the industry who are enjoying their Academy Awards weekend – fuck you.
Khan Manka, Jr. – Chairman & CEO – Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company
