Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage to Write, Produce ‘Monster High’ Adaptation

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the TV creators behind shows such as Gossip Girl and The O.C., have come on board to write and produce Universal’s live-action adaptation of Monster High.

Monster High is the Mattel toyline that features teenage children of monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman undergoing the trials and tribulations of high school.

The toyline is a recent addition to the Mattel brand – it only launched in 2010 – but it has exploded in popularity and now generates more than the company’s signature Barbie line, $1.4 billion verses $1.3 billion when including aspects such as video games, apparel, and publishing.

The project was initially set up before the toy launch and had Alfred Gough and Miles Millar writing it as a musical. The new version is no longer a musical.

Schwartz and Savage have made a name for themselves speaking to the teen crowd with their shows and have also worked with Universal on the upcoming remake of teen drama Endless Love.

The duo will produce under their Fake Empire banner alongside Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who originally brought the project to the studio. Mattel’s Playground Productions is executive producing.

Universal’s vice president of production Maradith Frenkel and creative executive Chloe Yellin are overseeing.

Schwartz and Savage are repped by WME and attorney Joel McKuin.

Email: Borys.Kit@THR.com
Twitter: @borys_kit

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