HBO is reportedly working on a film based on the recent GameStop WallStreetBets phenomenon by Jason Blum, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Len Amato.
Another film about GameStop The WallStreetBets phenomenon is under development, this time on HBO by Jason Blum and Andrew Ross Sorkin. The new project is the latest of several in development on GameStop’s recent short selling situation, including a Netflix adaptation of Mark Boal starring Noah Centineo.
The status of GameStop’s stock has been the definitive headline since the end of January, when the bankrupt video game retailer saw a massive rise in stock prices after the Reddit group WallStreetBets intentionally inflated prices with widespread purchases. The move was celebrated by many as a well-deserved popular attack on Wall Street hedge funds and short sellers (brokers who make money from bankrupt companies), although others have condemned WallStreetBets for bringing down the market in dangerous ways.
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Regardless of the tangible financial repercussions, Hollywood has already seen the narrative potential of GameStop’s story. Several film projects are already underway, including a movie recently announced for HBO. According The wrap, the project will be led by Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions and Andrew Ross Sorkin, the co-creator of the hit series Billion. Former HBO Films president Len Amato will serve as executive producer. The film will be scripted, supposedly in the style of other recent cultural / technological history films, such as The Big Short and The social network.
GameStop’s story is clearly ripe for a dramatic adaptation, but it is still bizarre to see several studios, writers and producers embrace the idea as soon as the phenomenon started. The Netflix GameStop project would already have its star on Noah Centineo. Another MGM film will be based on the book by Ben Mezrich, author of the book that inspired The social network. Mezrich’s GameStop book hasn’t even been written yet, but MGM has already acquired the rights.
The speed with which studios are running to develop their own WallStreetBets projects is not unprecedented, but it is quite rare. The story itself and its economic and social impacts are still developing, and it may take some time before the full effect of the GameStop phenomenon – which has now also spread to other struggling companies like AMC – is revealed. Viewers and streaming subscribers will be able to choose ways to watch the GameStop history soon, including the adaptation of HBO.
Source: The Wrap
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