As a long-time action movie enthusiast and someone who has seen their fair share of toy-based films, I must say that I am genuinely thrilled about the upcoming “Matchbox” movie, especially with Sam Hargrave at the helm. With his impressive background in stunt coordination for Marvel’s Avengers series and the Hunger Games franchise, not to mention the success he’s had with the Extraction franchise, this could very well be a game-changer for toy movies.
If you’re someone who spent hours playing with toy cars as a child, like many of us, you might be thrilled about the upcoming Matchbox movie. While it’s true that some films based on classic toys haven’t been great in the past, there’s been a noticeable change for the better lately. This improvement can be attributed to the phenomenal success of Barbie and the last two Transformers movies. With the talented team working on the upcoming Mattel Films project and John Cena, the former wrestler turned actor, leading the cast, it looks promising that we’re in capable hands for this film.
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my enthusiasm for the upcoming “Matchbox” film! Though an official release date hasn’t been revealed yet, the buzz surrounding this long-awaited project has me on the edge of my seat. Here’s what we know so far about this eagerly anticipated movie based on the legendary toy brand.
What Is The Matchbox Release Date?
According to recent updates, neither Mattel Films, Apple, nor Skydance have disclosed any information about the release date for Matchbox. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll find it on the 2024 movie schedule. On the contrary, there’s a strong possibility that it might appear in the 2025 schedule. Notably, this would coincide with the return of the current largest car franchise, as Fast & Furious 11 is set to hit theaters in 2025.
Keep an eye out for updates on the upcoming “Matchbox” release within the next few weeks and months, as details about its production timeline and star-studded cast become available. By the way…
The Matchbox Cast
In September 2024, the roster of upcoming John Cena movies expanded with Deadline revealing that the ex-WWE Champion and Make-A-Wish Foundation ambassador is now part of the Matchbox film. As of now, details about his character are still undisclosed, but it’s safe to speculate that he won’t be portraying a car driver rather than a car itself (though that would have been quite amusing).
John Cena, who made a big impact in Hollywood around ten years ago, is not new to either high-speed car films (he was a standout in the latest Fast & Furious movies) or films based on famous toy brands due to his role in the 2018 live-action Transformers movie, Bumblebee. This makes him well-equipped for leading a project like this. However, it remains to be seen if he’ll adopt a clean-cut, good-guy image similar to his wrestling persona or an outrageous, profanity-laden performance like in Peacemaker. We’ll find out soon enough.
Keep an eye out for updates, because within the upcoming weeks and months, we’ll likely have additional info on the remaining members of the Matchbox team.
What Is Matchbox About?
Similar to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and the forthcoming The Sims film, Matchbox toy cars aren’t renowned for their captivating narratives, rather, they have long encouraged children to employ their creativity in building unique stories within imaginary worlds. As of now, there’s no word on a Matchbox movie storyline or how screenwriters David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper intend to transform the extensive collection of diecast and plastic cars into a grand cinematic spectacle. However, one can only speculate that whatever they create will be quite a sight to see.
With an array of cars (ranging from real to imaginative) spanning various toy generations, the possibilities are virtually endless for the duo of writers whose portfolios encompass works such as The Adam Project, Deliverance, This Is Where I Leave You, and Scream: The TV Series. Given their extensive background in creating thrilling, heartfelt, and magical narratives, we can expect to be in capable hands when it comes to the story’s development.
Extraction Director Sam Hargrave Will Helm Matchbox
Should you be in search of an additional cause to anticipate the release of the “Matchbox” film, I’ve got some exciting news! According to Deadline, it was revealed in May 2024 that Sam Hargrave, the talented director from the “Extraction” action movie series, will be taking charge of the project. This announcement is noteworthy for numerous reasons.
Initially, Hargrave’s work on the action series starring Chris Hemsworth has produced two remarkable action movies that stand out among recent releases. Notably, these films effectively employed extended takes and fluid sequences. If he can replicate this magic in Matchbox, we could be looking at not only one of the finest toy-themed films yet, but also a uniquely inventive car movie for quite some time.
Apart from his background, similar to Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, Hargrave boasts a rich history in stunt coordination, contributing to some of the most outstanding Marvel films such as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, alongside the Hunger Games series and Atomic Blonde. It’s fair to assume he has quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to action sequences.
The Matchbox Movie Was In Works Well Before Barbie Was Released
It might seem like Mattel Films was capitalizing on the massive box office success of Barbie in July 2023 when they announced Matchbox, but the truth is that they had been working on this project long before Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie made the world pink. In fact, Mattel revealed their plans to collaborate with Skydance Media on a live-action film based on the iconic line of Matchbox toys, which were first introduced over 60 years ago, back in July 2022.
Initially, not much detail was shared, apart from comments from involved parties. However, this situation has significantly evolved over the past two years.
This Isn’t The Only Upcoming Movie Based On Mattel Toys
It appears that Mattel’s films will continue gracing the big screen for some time, given the numerous projects currently under development beyond “Matchbox”. The live-action “Masters of the Universe” movie, inspired by the toys and cartoon of the same name, is slated to debut in theaters on June 5, 2026. However, there are several other productions without confirmed release dates as of now.
For some time now, discussions have circulated about creating a movie based on the popular toy brand, Hot Wheels. As of now, no director has been assigned, but J.J. Abrams’ company, Bad Robot, is spearheading efforts to bring this project to life. Additionally, there’s Daniel Kaluuya’s enigmatic Barney movie that we’ve been anticipating for a while, and a film adaptation of Bob the Builder is also in development. We’ll just have to keep an eye out for updates on these exciting productions!
Look forward to learning more about Matchbox in the future, however, for now, take a peek at Mattel’s grand amusement park projects.
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2024-09-22 23:07