As if the year couldn't start any weirder, Risk is being turned into a TV series. That's right; the game with no plot beyond the ceaseless self-destructive impulse of humanity is going to be on the small screen. Beau Willimon, the creator of Netflix's House of Cards, has reached an agreement with eOne, an entertainment company currently owned by Hasbro.
Risking It On Risk
One of the world's most famous war boardgames may not seem like a prime choice for TV adaptation with its total lack of any narrative, but that doesn't mean that eOne or Hasbro are barking up the wrong tree.
Willimon has made some incredibly successful series' in the past, with both House of Cards and The First holding some high scores from critics and high ratings from networks they've aired on.
If anyone can make a successful adaptation of Risk, it's going to be Beau Willimon. A period drama about war and diplomacy in the 19th century doesn't sound like a bad idea, although it does sound a bit like a remake of Sharpe. At least it's unlikely to meet with as much misfortune as that one time someone tried to make a Battleship movie.
How To Translate A Classic
The biggest question hanging over the Risk adaptation is how they're going to adapt it. Our information is limited right now, but it seems tricky to capture the classic war game's essence without making it a generic drama. The brand's lack of a story might make some question why the name was attached at all.
It won't be the first time that Risk has brushed shoulders with pop culture. Shows like Red Dwarf had a habit of constant references to the game, mainly as a way of making one of the characters look like a prat. It seems unlikely that'll be the main goal of this adaptation.
There is currently no news of a release date or production schedule for Risk.
What do you think of this Risk adaptation? Will you be tuning in when the series finally releases? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
