Netflix is reportedly developing a live-action Catan movie, with Aaron and Adam Nee writing the script, according to Deadline’s report. The Masters of the Universe writers are attached, but Netflix hasn’t confirmed the news, and no further details are available.
The report comes more than a year after Netflix announced that it had acquired exclusive global rights to Catan. It’s the first news of a specific adaptation since that announcement, though the streamer’s plans go well beyond one feature.
Netflix reportedly plans to develop live-action and animated scripts for both television series and films, along with unscripted projects and video games based on Catan. That puts several types of adaptations in development from the start, rather than waiting for one film or show to succeed before expanding.
All Catan projects will be produced by Asmodee’s Darren Kyman, Catan Studio’s Pete Fenlon, Klaus Teuber’s sons Guido Teuber and Benjamin Teuber, and Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee.
The source material is Klaus Teuber’s The Settlers of Catan, first published in Germany in 1995. Its place in board game history rests partly on helping introduce Euro-style board games to American audiences and introducing “Eurogames” to players around the world. Catan is now in its sixth edition and available in more than 40 languages.
Netflix’s stated approach puts the game’s strategic tension at the center of its adaptation plans. “Anyone who has played Catan knows that the intense strategy at the core of the game has endless opportunities for some serious drama,” said Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of Scripted Series, US and Canada, in a statement.
“We’re thrilled to partner across series, features, animation, and games to bring this world to life for hardcore ‘Settlers’ and new fans alike.”
For the Nee brothers, the writing challenge is turning the tension of a game shaped by players’ trades into a fixed cinematic story. How they’ll do that is still under wraps: the report names the writers and specifies the live-action format, but offers no story details.
