John Cena to Lead Mattel’s ‘Matchbox’ Movie for Apple Original Films

John Cena is set to star in Matchbox, a live-action adaptation of the classic toy car brand. Apple Original Films has secured the project, which comes from Skydance and Mattel Films. The film will be directed by Sam Hargrave, known for his work on the Extraction movie series.

The screenplay will be written by David Coggeshall, who penned The Family Plan for Apple, and Jonathan Tropper, the writer behind The Adam Project. Matchbox will mark the first time the toyline, launched in 1953 and later acquired by Mattel in 1997, will be adapted for the big screen.

The Matchbox brand was initially created by automotive enthusiast Jack Odell, who designed a small toy car for his daughter. The toy became so popular among her school friends that the brand was eventually born, offering small, collectible cars that could fit in a matchbox. Mattel, which also owns the popular Hot Wheels brand, has long competed in the die-cast car market.

Plot details for the film remain under wraps, but the production continues Mattel’s recent trend of bringing its iconic toylines to cinema, following other toy-to-film adaptations.

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger of Skydance will produce, alongside Robbie Brenner for Mattel Films. This is the latest in a series of collaborations between Skydance and Apple, which includes upcoming films like The Gorge and Fountain of Youth.

Cena, who has starred in recent projects such as Amazon’s Jackpot and HBO’s Peacemaker, is also set to embark on his farewell WWE tour in 2025. He is represented by WME, Intenta Media and Johnson, Shapiro.

Ron Rocky Coloma: Ron Rocky Coloma is the Founder and Director of Entertainment Flair, an editor and a writer who specializes in entertainment, fashion and lifestyle journalism. He is passionate about telling the stories of designers, artists and creatives, bringing their narratives to life and showcasing their talent and vision. At Entertainment Flair, Coloma continues to innovate and elevate the art of storytelling, striving to inspire and engage audiences with every piece of content he creates, which is viewed by audiences in 62 countries. Throughout his career, Coloma has contributed to esteemed publications such as Pacific Daily News (formerly part of the Gannett and USA TODAY NETWORK), The Guam Daily Post, Pacific Island Times, Affinity Magazine, MINT Magazine, Peninsula Press and The Stanford Daily. These experiences have honed his ability to craft compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Coloma has been invited to cover private industry shows at New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Copenhagen Fashion Week, Tokyo Fashion Week and Seoul Fashion Week, further solidifying his standing in the industry. These opportunities have enriched his understanding of global fashion trends and the visionary minds behind them. A proud alumnus of Stanford University, Coloma earned both his bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree in Communication with a focus on Data Journalism, all within an accelerated timeframe of four years. His academic journey at Stanford equipped him with a unique blend of storytelling prowess and data-driven insights, enabling him to deliver impactful and well-rounded narratives.
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