eOne taps Beau Willimon for ‘Risk’ adaptation and first-look deal

Entertainment One (eOne) is in development with a scripted TV series based around the classic board game Risk, with House Of Cards creator Beau Willimon signed to a first-look deal with the company and set to helm the project.

Willimon will write and oversee development of the project based on the strategy game, which, like eOne, is owned by toy company Hasbro. Willimon and Jordan Tappis’ production company Westward recently signed a multiyear deal with eOne.

No other details about the project have yet emerged, but the board game Risk was created in 1957 by French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse. It combines diplomacy, strategy and warfare as two to six players compete for global domination on a board depicting a map of the world.

Risk will join other board game properties such as Monopoly and Cluedo that eOne is adapting for the screen.

“As we continue to build out eOne’s world-class content slate, we couldn’t think of more perfect partners than Beau and Jordan – whose award-winning storytelling and imagination are among the best in the business,” said Michael Lombardo, president of global television at eOne.

“In Beau, we’ve found an amazing combination of brilliant producer, singular creator, and avid fan of Risk. We can’t wait to work with him and the rest of the Westward team to reimagine that brand and so much more.”

“All of us at Westward are thrilled to join forces with eOne to bring to life some of the most successful IP in the marketplace as well as partner on our extensive slate of scripted television shows. We’re excited to develop Risk as our first project together,” added Willimon and Tappis.