The Australian actress and star of last year’s hit Barbie movie, Margot Robbie, has announced that her production company, LuckyChap, will work alongside Hasbro to produce the Monopoly movie.

Margot Robbie is partnering with Hasbro Entertainment and Lionsgate to bring the iconic boardgame Monopoly to life on the big screen. The news was announced during CinemaCon 2024 in Las Vegas.

LuckyChap production company, headed by Margot, alongside husband Tom Ackerley and associate Josey McNamara, said in a statement: “Monopoly is a top property – pun fully intended. Like all of the best IP, this game has resonated worldwide for generations, and we are so excited to bring this game to life alongside the wonderful teams involved at Lionsgate and Hasbro.”

LuckyChap’s biggest hit to date is, of course, last year’s Barbie movie, which Margot starred in alongside Ryan Gosling. The film made over $1.4b at the global box office and was nominated for eight Oscars, ultimately winning Best Original Song for Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?’. The studio also produced Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan.

Zev Foreman, head of Film for Hasbro Entertainment, which is also producing the Monopoly movie, said: “As one of the most iconic games in the world, Monopoly provides an incredible platform for storytelling opportunities. We are thrilled to have the unique vision of LuckyChap and Lionsgate alongside us to bring this historic piece of popular culture to the big screen.”

Monopoly continues to be one of Hasbro’s biggest brands, enjoying worldwide recognition and consumer engagement across a range of immersive touchpoints, from online and mobile gaming to Gamepath Entertainment’s Monopoly Lifesized, an immersive, physical version of the world’s favourite family game played on a 15mx15m Monopoly board. In physical gaming, a Barbie Monopoly launched in August 2023, while this year Hasbro is launching Monopoly Go, a family party game of sliding tokens and cash-grabbing fun. In this up-and-active version of Monopoly, players take turns sliding their tokens down the long 3-foot gameboard. At the end of each round, players collect or pay cash based on where their tokens ended up.

In a recent interview with American magazine Variety, Margot discussed her hopes for future LuckyChap productions, saying: ““We want to make more films that have the effect that Barbie has. I don’t know if it has to be Barbie 2. Why can’t it be another big, original, bold idea where we get an amazing filmmaker, a big budget to play with, and the trust of a huge conglomerate behind them to go and really play? I want to do that.”

Ruth Henriquez tells Licensing.biz how Barbie has evolved throughout the decades and why the brand continues to offer unrivalled licensing opportunities.

Ruth Henriquez, senior director of Consumer Products EMEA.

How is it that Barbie remains so relevant and aspirational 65 years after she was invented?

In the past 65 years, Barbie has continuously evolved to reflect the changing cultural landscape. Barbie has represented over 250 different careers and now has over 175 different looks, embracing diversity and inclusivity across skin colour, hair texture, body shapes, height and more.

Barbie isn’t just a part of culture – she creates culture. We saw it with the Barbie Movie and beyond: the extensive range of products, partnerships and multimedia initiatives ensure that she remains visible and engaging across various platforms. Furthermore, Barbie’s timeless message of empowerment, encapsulated in the ethos ‘You Can Be Anything’, continues to inspire generations of children worldwide, fostering a deep emotional connection with the brand. From the very beginning, Barbie has been the original girl empowerment brand.

To date, what would you say Barbie’s most unusual/unique licensing partnership has been?

We like to give all of our brands multiple touchpoints across the day, so in that regard, we are in a lot of spaces that may be considered unique to other brands. We recently announced the Barbie flip phone with our partner’s HMD at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and it’s safe to say all the tech journalists at the event weren’t expecting that.

We also like to change with the times and are now in the world of NFTs. Collaborating with Boss Beauties, Barbie ventured into the digital realm to offer exclusive NFT collectibles, blending iconic recognition with cutting-edge technology. This unexpected partnership showcases the ability of the Barbie brand to adapt to emerging trends and embrace innovation, while staying true to its brand identity.

With such a vast range of collaborations under her belt, are there still opportunities out there for prospective licensees to grab a slice of the Barbie action?

There are still ample openings for prospective licensees to join the Barbie ecosystem. Part of the beauty of having such an iconic brand is we are regularly approached with the most innovating and inspiring opportunities.

As Barbie continues to expand her presence in various industries, including fashion, beauty, entertainment and technology, there is always room for innovative partnerships that align with Barbie’s core values and resonate with diverse audiences worldwide.

How important is it to Mattel that Barbie’s licensing partners align with the brand on its core ethos: You Can Be Anything?

We have four pillars to our brand playbook at Mattel, and at the top of that list is brand purpose. It’s important that everything we do amplifies the distinct reason for being in each of our brands with intent and authenticity.

By ensuring that partners share Barbie’s commitment to empowerment, inclusivity and diversity, Mattel maintains the integrity of the Barbie brand and reinforces its message of inspiring limitless potential in everyone. Collaborating with partners who embrace these values strengthens Barbie’s brand identity and enhances the overall consumer experience.

How do you see the Barbie CP/licensing programme evolving over the coming years?

In 2022, we set out to double the franchise side of the Mattel business by 2025, something that is very much on track, and we are on a journey of evolution to become a truly franchise-first business. This evolution will involve further expansion into platforms such as location-based entertainment, allowing us to create everlasting fan connections, and emerging gaps in consumer products that we will tackle head on in 2025 with best-in-class partners. The future, much like Barbie, is limitless and that’s what makes it all so exciting.

In your opinion, why does Barbie still deserve to be a go-to property for licensees looking to gain a foothold in the market?

Barbie has long held a special place in the heart of millions of people and is a nostalgic piece of childhoods around the world. By incorporating Barbie into their products or displays, retailers and brands leverage this emotional connection and the global appeal across multiple areas of consumer products.

Barbie’s ongoing evolution and commitment to diversity ensures that she remains relevant in an ever-changing market landscape. The brand has worked hard to be reflective of the community in which our fans live, work and play. In recent years, this has been more evident than ever, creating some of the highest brand engagement we have ever seen. By continuously refreshing the product offerings and embracing inclusivity in all its forms, Barbie stays at the forefront of cultural trends and consumer preferences, providing licensees with a dynamic and forward-thinking brand platform.

With Barbie as their partner, licensees have the opportunity to tap into a global phenomenon and leverage its iconic status to drive success and growth.

Anything else you’d like to add?

As you have just mentioned, many people ask us how we will keep Barbie going for generations to come. Last year, we saw one of our biggest brand moments with the movie, but Barbie was a brand long before that and will be long after. This year, we pause to celebrate 65 years, but also look ahead to the next 65, and 2025 is already looking extremely exciting. We are bringing the world of Barbie to life though our location-based entertainment offering and amazing partnerships in an ever-expanding range of categories that will immerse consumers back in Barbieland. There are always innovative ways to collaborate.

Licensing Expo’s highly anticipated closing night party is one of a raft of planned events celebrating the Brands at Play theme.

Licensing Expo has unveiled the inaugural Licensing Expo Closing Night Party, which will feature a confirmed performance from Loud Luxury.

Loud Luxury, the Canadian-born Los Angeles-based music duo of Andrew Fedyk and Joe De Paceon, is known for several independent releases and remixes, including the smash hit ‘Body’. Since its release, the duo has released other hit singles such as Love No More and I’m Not Alright, collaborating with top artists from around the world and racking up over 400m streams.

Renowned for its upbeat house music, Loud Luxury sets the stage for the end of an epic Licensing Expo this year themed “Brands at Play”. Hypnotic dance energy will bring the week to a close at the contemporary Vegas Hakkasan Nightclub, concluding the Expo in style. VIP entry begins at 10:30pm on 23rd May, offering complimentary admission until 1am with proof of a show badge.

Licensing Expo continues to add more new events and editions in honour of the theme of play. Guests are welcome to participate in activities hosted throughout the event campus as they connect, meet, discover and deepen relationships.

“We are committed to bringing the amusement and interconnected experience of play to life within our reimagined campus throughout the week, as this will truly be an event to remember,” commented Anna Clarke, SVP Licensing, Informa Markets. “Loud Luxury embodies the energy as well as the calibre of talent and entertainment our events bring to entertain, excite and connect our industry together.”

Licensing Expo invests in the full floor-to-floor experience across the campus of the show creating touch points through after-hours events and continued connections, even after the show closes. Guests are encouraged to leverage the full range of opportunities available to network from before-start to after-finish and soak in all the magic of relationship building Licensing Expo offers.

An Opening Night Party will also take place on 21st May, at the Daylight Beach Club, with talent to be announced.

The Music and Entertainment categories are core to the $340.8b licensing market. Key agents including Epic Rights, TreImage LLC, Opry Entertainment Group, CAA, Bravado, A Ceremony of Roses, Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and more will represent well-known performers, artists and musicians on the show floor.

Licensing Expo 2024 welcomes over 200+ companies in the licensing and brand extension industry such as Netflix, Hasbro, Paramount, Mattel, Lego, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Riot Games, Tetris and NBCUniversal.

For more information on the Official Closing Party at Licensing Expo please visit LicensingExpo.com.

Inspired by Trolls characters Poppy, Branch and Tiny Diamond, the new Nutriburst Kids’ Trolls Vitamins range is available in three vibrant gummy options.

Nutriburst has introduced its latest range, Nutriburst Kids’ Trolls Vitamins, based upon the beloved DreamWorks Animation franchise.

This vibrant range of kids vitamin gummies has been tailored to nurture the health, growth and overall development of children, redefining the way kids consume essential nutrients while also combining health and fun via a collaboration with Trolls, following DreamWorks Animation’s release of Trolls Band Together.

Specially designed for children aged four and above, Nutriburst Kids’ Vitamins are vegan, Halal- and Kosher-permitted, sugar-free and crafted to an easy-to-chew formula. Adults with a sweet tooth are also more than welcome to enjoy the gummies.

There are three Trolls gummies to choose from:

• Kids’ Vitamin D3 & Calcium
• Kids’ Immunity, with D3, C and black elderberry extract
• Kids’ Multivitamin, with 13 essential nutrients including C, D, iron and iodine.

Out now, Trolls Band Together sees Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) return for an all-new chapter. With the now-couple growing closer, Poppy discovers Branch was once a member of BroZone, her favourite boyband, along with his four brothers: Floyd (Golden Globe nominee Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric Andre), Spruce (Grammy winner Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Grammy winner Kid Cudi). The band broke up when Branch was young, and the brothers haven’t seen each other since.

When Floyd is kidnapped by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains – Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Grammy winner and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells) – Branch and Poppy must embark on an emotional journey to reunite the brothers and save Floyd from a fate worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Filled with new and classic pop hits, a dazzling cast of musical superstars and comedic powerhouses, and a host of new characters, Trolls Band Together is a feast for the musical senses.

From today, families will be able to order a variety of Bluey-themed Home Chef recipes kids will love, such as Bandit and Chilli’s Chicken Soup, packaged inside interactive boxes.

Home Chef has announced a four-week partnership with BBC Studios for the Emmy Award-winning animated series Bluey, starting today. The collaboration brings the magic of Bluey to Home Chef’s one-of-a-kind Family Menu, which makes mealtime more convenient, approachable and enjoyable for families with kids.

“Partnering with Bluey is a celebration of the happiness and quality time that defines both Bluey and Home Chef,” says Raquel Brown, brand director at Home Chef. “Through this partnership, we aim to turn every meal into a moment of shared delight and make family mealtime truly special.”

Starting today, customers can place their orders for the Bluey-themed recipes that will change weekly throughout the month. To enhance the experience, customers who choose a Bluey inspired meal will find a surprise Bluey toy inside their box – with a different collectible toy every week that fans everywhere are sure to love.* In addition, all Family Menu meals will arrive in a special interactive box all month long.

Menu offerings include:

• Turkey and Bean Chilli by Chilli with cheese and tortilla strips
• Bandit and Chilli’s Chicken Soup with carrots and potatoes
• Bingo’s ‘Not Too Spicy’ Takeaway Salmon with orange glaze, sesame green beans, and rice
• The Pizza Girls’ Garlic Parmesan Sausage Pizza with mozzarella and mushrooms
• Bandit’s Takeaway Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl with rice, red peppers, and green onions

Available on Disney+, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel, Bluey was the No. 2 most-streamed programme across all audiences in the US in 2023, according to Nielsen. New episodes will premiere in April, including a special extended episode, The Sign, on 14th April. If ordered by 29th March, meals will arrive just in time for families to make before watching the extra-long episode of the global hit TV show.

For more information on the Home Chef and Bluey partnership, please visit homechef.com/bluey or follow Home Chef on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Meetings are now available to book in advance of Licensing Expo, while visitors can also discover new IP and search for the latest brands exhibiting at the show.

Licensing Expo has officially opened its new and enhanced Meetings Platform for the upcoming annual event, which takes place from 21st-23rd May at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The Meetings Platform, first launched in 2016, is a critical part of the Licensing Expo experience, facilitating connections ahead of the event and helping visitors and exhibitors to maximise their time and productivity while at the show. Sponsored by The Brand Liaison, the platform boasts significant upgrades for 2024, making it easier than ever for customers to search for specific brands and intellectual property (IP), find companies and individuals, and book meetings.

“Licensing Expo is the premier meeting place for the entire industry, so it is unsurprising that last year there were over 250,000 searches and more than 6,800 meetings booked via the Meetings Platform, the highest to date,” said Anna Knight, senior vice president of the Global Licensing Group. “This year’s enriched platform further deepens the pre-show experience, guiding meetings and connections with ease. The platform is also the best discovery tool for finding unique and emerging IP from all over the world, so you are not just relying on the brands you already know. Over 5,000 brands will be showcased at this year’s event, providing something truly for every product and retail space.”

Once registered, visitors and exhibitors will gain immediate access to the platform and can start booking meetings before schedules fill up. Augmentations this year include new search capabilities by geographic location and IP category; session filters for first time attendees and new exhibitors; calendar syncing; the ability to view the contact information of company representatives prior to the start of the Expo and much more.

Licensing Expo participants may also purchase opening night party tickets directly through the platform and add seminars and keynotes to their calendar, making it the ultimate planning tool for a valuable visit.

“Finally, all in one place show planning!” enthused Steve Heller, Brand Licensing associate at The Brand Liaison. “No more multiple calendars for all our meetings – navigating personal inboxes, company schedules, appointments, seminars, matchmaking and managing different time zones…the new Licensing Expo Meeting Platform solves all of this and more.”

Over 300 exhibiting companies including Paramount, Lego, Warner Bros. Discovery, Coca-Cola, The Walt Disney Company, BBC Studios, Beanstalk, Mattel, Crunchyroll, Minecraft, Air Force, Amazon MGM Studios, CD Projekt Red, Airstream, Laika Studios, NASCAR and Nintendo will be exhibiting, and are actively looking for new connections to advance their businesses.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to register early and leverage the platform in advance of the show with regular weekly updates. To gain access to the Meetings Platform, users must be registered for Licensing Expo. Visit www.licensingexpo.com to sign-up and access the most up to date list.

Featuring Katy Perry as the voice of Ms. Leopard and Orlando Bloom as Mr. Racoon, the new special celebrates Peppa’s 20th anniversary with the show’s first-ever wedding.

On Monday 25th March, the Peppa Pig Wedding Special debut episode, featuring Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, will air at 9am ET/PT, 1pm GMT on Nickelodeon.

This will be the first episode in a 3-part special airing that week as part of Nickelodeon’s Peppa Pig Wedding Week, where fans can tune in from 25th – 28th March (9am ET/PT, 1pm GMT) to celebrate the iconic animated character’s 20th anniversary with the series’ first-ever wedding.

Joining the beloved Peppa Pig franchise as guest characters and voice stars, dress maker Ms. Leopard (voiced by Katy Perry) and jeweller Mr. Raccoon (voiced by Orlando Bloom) assist with preparation for the wedding scene. Kids and their families can jump into the adventure as Mr. Bull and Mrs. Cow surprise everyone with their wedding announcement and everyone rallies to make it memorable.

The Peppa Pig pre-school animated television series has been airing for 20 years across ten seasons in over 180 territories. Globally successful, the brand connects with consumers across every touchpoint, from TV to theme parks to retail. As a lifelong friend, Peppa Pig encourages kids to jump in together and explore the world around them, while helping give kids the confidence to treat every first step as a new adventure, from the everyday to the epic.

To see the latest on Peppa Pig, visit YouTube, and find the show on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Moonbug will create and develop the show, VeeFriends, with shorts set to debut on YouTube in late summer 2024.

Moonbug Entertainment, a Candle Media company, and VaynerWatt, a production studio founded by Gary Vaynerchuk, Eric Wattenberg and Matt Higgins, has announced a strategic partnership to produce a premium content franchise based on the VeeFriends universe.

VeeFriends is a contemporary entertainment company that combines collectibles, events, games and technology to allow people to make stronger connections with themselves and VeeFriends characters. The brand says it is scaling its unique characters and their qualities to ‘create a happier world by inspiring creativity, self-discovery, and personal growth’.

Gary Vaynerchuk

“I built VeeFriends in order to help change the world through dynamic characters that were both virtuous and entertaining, engaging and enlightening,” said Gary Vaynerchuk. “I am excited to work with Candle Media and Moonbug Entertainment, which share many of the same core values, to expand this franchise for new platforms and audiences.”

René Rechtman, co-founder and CEO, Moonbug Entertainment, added: “Our companies share a vision to contribute to the development and enrichment of the next generation, which naturally allows for a strong partnership. The VeeFriends characters and universe that Gary and his team have created will make a strong foundation for an engaging show, which our team is excited to develop.”

Titled VeeFriends, the 2D-animated show will be rated for children aged 6-11. The show takes viewers into the VeeFriends universe and features a collection of larger-than-life characters who compete in the VeeDome, the ultimate over-the-top challenge arena, to battle out the biggest issues facing tweendom today. Every character who goes into the VeeDome comes out a little stronger – and a lot more self-aware.

“VeeFriends is thrilled to be partnering with Moonbug to create a show that not only entertains but nurtures emotional intelligence,” said VeeFriends president Andy Krainak. “Through our characters, we aim to inspire both empathy and competition, empowering the next generation to balance passion with emotional understanding.”

Episodes will be released starting from late summer 2024 as three-minute shorts on YouTube. The show presents an opportunity for co-viewing, as it covers themes and storylines for parents and kids to explore and discuss together.

Kevin Mayer

“With the VeeFriends universe, Gary and the VaynerWatt team have built an innovative, inspiring, digitally-native storyworld, which has galvanised a deeply engaged community around characters that espouse positive values,” said Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Candle Media co-founders and co-CEOs. “We are excited for Candle and Moonbug to join the VeeFriends family, to further develop these unique characters into an innovative premium content franchise.”

Delegates heard trend updates, brand presentations and panel debates and engaged in facilitated roundtables to continue discussions.

The second Licensing for Retail Day, organised by Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) and License Global in partnership with trade association Licensing International, has reported that it attracted record retail numbers on Thursday 7th March.

Held at Convene London, more than 240 licensing professionals were in attendance, including brand owners, licensees and a record 114 retailers from The Entertainer, Boots, Lidl, McDonald’s, Tesco, My 1st Years, HMV, Iceland, The Works and many more.

The one day conference – which enjoyed a successful launch last year – puts retailers front and centre, providing actionable advice to navigate the world of brand licensing, from engaging directly with major brands to identifying best in class suppliers. This year’s programme focused on fandom, with content designed to help retailers maximise the power of fandom and create products that fans want.

“Branded products tap into customer’s emotions and as licensed products sold $340.8b in revenue sales in 2022, the power of that personal connection should not be understated,” said BLE’s head of retail, Laura Freedman-Dagg. “Consumer products bring brands to life, and we hope we’ve shown retailers today how they also increase footfall, drive customer loyalty and acquisition, solidify a point of difference to their competitors and positively impact their bottom line. It’s been a day full of inspiration, connection and real added value for retailers, and also for those brands and licensees who have spent the day networking with 114 fully engaged buyers.”

The day’s keynote celebrated Hasbro’s centenary, with Caroline Spooner and Andy Gosling presenting 100 Years of Inspiring Families through the Wonder of Play.

Either side of the keynote, speakers from Moonpig, Jazwares, Sega, Fabacus, Kids Industries, Start Licensing, Moonbug Entertainment, Watermelon Creative, Acamar Films, Crayola, The Point.1888, Fundamentally Children, Hunter Price and Raw Group took to the stage to discuss everything from consumer trends to fandom in families and digital passports.

There were brand showcases from Jazwares and Squishmallows, Acamar and Bing, Sega and Sonic the Hedgehog, and The Point.1888 and Historic Royal Palaces, plus practical networking with peers, the BLE and Licensing International teams, brand owners, licensees, agents, consultants, media and industry suppliers.

For the first time this year, organisers introduced facilitated roundtables moderated by licensing experts including Ben Roberts from License Global, Rory Partis from Circana, Katie Rollings from Acamar, Amanda Gummer from Fundamentally Children, Mark Kingston from Libertas Brands, Will Stewart from The Point.1888, Francesca Lisle from Lisle Licensing, Helena Mansell-Stopher from Products of Change and Sarah Swindell from Watermelon Creative.

Thanks to Start Licensing, copies of Aardman books were available for delegates to take home in return for a voluntary donation to World Book Day (which also took place on 7th March).

Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day, said: “World Book Day, our charity’s annual celebration of reading for pleasure, offers huge opportunity for both retailers and licensees to get involved, have fun and raise funds to support our mission to help all children love reading. As a tentpole commercial moment across both the dressing up and publishing categories, World Book Day and its well-loved brand are an exciting prospect for collaboration.”

Delegates from Licensing for Retail Day will meet again at Brand Licensing Europe, which takes please 24th-26th September 2024 at Excel London.

The Puma x Squishmallows collaboration will see the launch of licensed trainers, t-shirts, dresses and two-piece clothing sets based on fan-favourite characters.

The Puma x Squishmallows collection comprises shoes for adults and kids as well as fashion pieces for young fans

Puma and Jazwares have unveiled a Puma x Squishmallows collection inspired by the best-selling and globally recognised ultra-soft plush range.

Iconic Puma styles meet the world’s most popular plush personalities in this colourful new collection. The Puma x Squishmallows range features various footwear styles for all ages, inspired by Cam, Lola and Winston, as well as apparel for kids including tees, hoodies and shorts featuring fan-favourite Squishmallows characters.

This new licensed range includes:

• RS-X Cam

Designed after Cam the Cat, the sneakers feature Cam’s colours with a Cam charm on the side and custom collaboration logo on the tongue, inspired by the official Squishmallows plush tags. These shoes also feature a custom charm and the iconic Squishmallows hangtag artwork on the tongue, complete with collector number.

• Suede XL Winston

This sneaker is designed after the fan-favourite teal owl, Winston. The upper features Winston’s signature colours along with subtle nods to his love for mac and cheese at the heel. These shoes feature a custom charm and the iconic Squishmallows hangtag artwork on the tongue complete with collector number.

• Cali Lola

Inspired by Lola the unicorn, a bold pink and purple tie-dye pattern features on the upper and the outer sole. In honour of Lola’s signature mane, the shoes also have tufts of faux fur at the heel and sides, alongside a custom charm and the iconic Squishmallows hangtag artwork on the tongue complete with collector number.

• Apparel

Accompanying apparel pieces are available in infant, pre-school and youth sizes and include Puma x Squishmallows co-branded graphic tees, shorts, t-shirt dresses, two-piece sets and more for each of the shoe styles.

The Puma x Squishmallows collection retails for $28-$85 and is available from 15th March on Puma.com, the Puma mobile app, the Puma NYC flagship store and at Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker.