Kevin Hart to star in Monopoly movie

The 39-year-old comedian was announced last month as host of the 2019 Oscars, before stepping down when homophobic tweets from almost a decade ago resurfaced online

Kevin Hart is in talks to star in a live-action film adaptation of the board game Monopoly, as part of a collaboration between Lionsgate and Hasbro.

Variety reports the comedian will also produce the film through his HartBeat Productions label, with Ride Along‘s Tim Story also in talks to direct the film and produce it through his own Story Company.

Lionsgate and Hasbro have had a Monopoly film in the works since 2015, when they hired The Truman Show‘s Andrew Niccol to write the screenplay, based around the story of a boy from Baltic Avenue (the second cheapest property in the game) on a quest to make a fortune.

Hart’s latest film, the comedy-drama The Upside, has been a surprise hit at the box office, earning $28m worldwide during its first week in cinemas.

The 39-year-old comedian was announced last month as host of the 2019 Oscars, before stepping down when homophobic tweets from almost a decade ago resurfaced online.

After initially refusing to apologise, Hart later said sorry to the LGBT+ community for the comments and appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The Oscars has since decided to continue without a host, with organisers instead hoping to attract big names to present awards.

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