Mattel and Dolphin Films have tapped Andy Garcia to take a starring role in Max Steel, a sci-fi superhero flick about a teenage boy who develops his extraordinary powers with the help of a mysterious alien creature. Garcia will play a scientist in the film opposite Ben Winchell and Ana Villafane.

Originally an animated series of the same name, as well as a line of action figures, Mattel has introduced the Max Steel franchise all over the world, it seems, with hopes of launching the brand as a live-action feature film saga. With Marvel, Warner Bros. and Sony cashing in big on superhero movies, not to mention Warner’s success with The LEGO Movie, it’s understandable Mattel and Dolphin Entertainment might being envisioning lots of dollar signs in their future.

The two leads, Winchell and Villafane are still relative unknowns in the mainstream movie world and hail from TV land. Securing Garcia for Max Steel adds a familiar face and Oscar-caliber talent to a potentially very lucrative endeavor. Garcia appears currently in Rob The Mob, which had a limited release last month, and he voices Eduardo for Fox’s hit animated feature Rio 2. His next appearance will be later this year in Fox’s action comedy Let’s Be Cops.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Mattel and Dolphin’s plans for a Max Steel franchise will materialize, but shooting for the (first?) film will supposedly start next Tuesday.