In the wake of Barbie’s box office dominance, Mattel is doubling down on translating its iconic toy brands to the big screen. The latest property to get the live-action treatment is Matchbox, with seasoned action director Sam Hargrave closing a deal to bring the miniature vehicle line to life.
Best known for helming the adrenaline-fueled Extraction films starring Chris Hemsworth for Netflix, Hargrave’s hiring signals Mattel and co-producers Skydance’s ambitions for a high-octane, explosive take on the beloved toy cars first launched in 1953.
The screenplay will be penned by the dynamic writing duo of David Coggeshall (Orphan: First Kill, Prey) and Jonathan Tropper (Warrior, The Adam Project), whose blend of gritty action chops and irreverent humor could deliver the perfect tonal balance for a Matchbox movie.
While specific plot details remain under wraps, Hargrave’s signature brand of visceral, hard-hitting action sequences seems tailor-made to capture the fantasy of those childhood days spent crashing and racing Matchbox cars around immaculately constructed roadways.
Producers on the project include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Robbie Brenner, demonstrating Mattel’s full commitment to turning Matchbox into their next major franchise play after the cultural phenomenon of Barbie.
The road to this live-action Matchbox adaptation has been a long one for the iconic toy brand, but Mattel finally appears to have all the right creative talent lined up to bring those classic vehicles roaring off the tabletop and onto the big screen in grand theatrical fashion.
With a pedigree for bone-crunching action behind the camera and a pair of writers adept at balancing thrills with humor on script duties, Matchbox has all the key ingredients to be a wildly entertaining joyride when it inevitably speeds into theaters.
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