Netflix greenlights life-sized Monopoly competition series for 2027 with $2 million prize

Netflix has officially greenlit a new reality competition series that turns Hasbro’s iconic Monopoly board into a life-sized playing field. The show, produced by Studio Lambert in partnership with Hasbro Entertainment, will debut in 2027 and pits 12 contestants against each other for a $2 million grand prize. Casting is already open for participants 21 and older, and the format promises negotiations, property deals, and eliminations that mirror the classic game’s win‑or‑go‑to‑jail dynamic. The announcement follows a wave of game‑based unscripted series on Netflix, from “Wonka’s Golden Ticket” to “Overcooked.” For developers and builders, the production showcases how a familiar IP can be re‑imagined as an immersive, large‑scale set that blends physical construction with interactive storytelling.

What happened

Netflix confirmed that Studio Lambert won a competitive bake‑off to produce the series, joining Hasbro Entertainment as co‑executive producers. The show will feature a fully realized Monopoly Town Square where contestants earn money, buy properties, negotiate deals and risk bankruptcy, with the last standing player taking home $2 million. Production is slated to begin later this year, with a 2027 premiere date and a global rollout on the streaming platform.

The casting call, released in July 2026, requires contestants to be at least 21 years old and able to handle the physical demands of a life‑size board. Executive producers Gabriel Marano and Zachary Edwin (Hasbro) along with Nia Yemoh, Tim Harcourt, Jack Burgess, Stephen Lambert and Kim Murphy (Studio Lambert) are steering the project. The series joins Netflix’s expanding slate of game‑based unscripted titles, leveraging the enduring popularity of the Monopoly brand, which has been a cultural touchstone for over 90 years.

Why it matters

The series illustrates how streaming services can revitalize classic board games by turning them into immersive, high‑budget productions that attract both nostalgic fans and reality‑TV audiences. For the industry, it signals a shift toward large‑scale set construction that blends physical design, real‑time game mechanics, and digital distribution, creating new opportunities for set builders, interactive designers, and data‑driven audience engagement tools. Success could encourage more IP‑driven competition formats, while a flop might caution against over‑investing in costly physical sets for streaming content.

How to think about it

When evaluating a similar IP‑driven project, start by mapping the core gameplay loops to episodic storytelling beats. Identify which physical elements (props, set pieces) can be modular to reduce build costs and allow reuse across seasons. Pair the set design with data collection points—such as real‑time scoring dashboards—to feed audience‑interactive features or second‑screen experiences. Finally, negotiate clear licensing terms that cover both on‑screen use and ancillary merchandise, ensuring the IP owner benefits from the extended ecosystem.

FAQ