ComingSoon Senior Editor Spencer Legacy spoke with Mattel Head of Live-Action Phil Breman and Vice President of Design Ted Wu about Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge. The duo spoke about the enduring appeal of Hot Wheels and the show’s celebrity guests.
“Sixteen contestants compete to transform cars from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams in the hopes of winning a life-changing cash prize — and seeing their creation made into a Hot Wheels die-cast toy that anyone can buy,” reads the series‘ description.
Spencer Legacy: Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge is all about dream fulfillment, both with the cars and the prize. What does it feel like to be part of a show that has such positivity at the center of it?
Phil Breman: At Mattel, we love to create content that provides kids and families with countless opportunities to explore the wonder of childhood. With Hot Wheels Ultimate Challenge in particular, our goal was to expand the creativity and imagination associated with our Hot Wheels IP. Seeing the positive reaction to our show from fans of all ages has been amazing as we approach the finale.
With so many competition shows out there, what was it that made Ultimate Challenge such an appealing idea that stood out to you?
Phil Breman: We knew that our finished product needed to reflect the global popularity of Hot Wheels. What makes the Ultimate Challenge different from other competition shows on the air right now is that it’s rooted in creativity and a challenger spirit. This isn’t a show focused on gameplay or challenges, it’s meant to show the creativity and artistry of our Hot Wheels fans and what better way to shine a light on that then with a primetime show on NBC.
Hot Wheels is such an iconic brand that has gone beyond toys to video games, cartoons, and shows like Ultimate Challenge. What do you think makes it such a timeless brand?
Ted Wu: On the surface, Hot Wheels has always been a brand that’s been “on trend” not only in car culture but pop culture in general. By staying relevant and current, the brand has endured for over 50 years. At the heart of the brand, though, there’s also a sprit of competition and challenge. So no matter how we show up (through toy, games, content, live experiences and more) our purpose is to ignite that challenger spirit in our fans. And that’s been a big reason adults and children alike continue to engage with the brand.
The show features celebrity guests like Terry Crews and Joel McHale. What was it like to get them on the show and see them interact with the premise?
Phil Breman: We’ve been fortunate to have an amazing lineup of celebrity guests throughout the season. The best part has been being able to see them interact with these insanely creative, real life Hot Wheels cars and experience the same joy as the creators and Hot Wheels fans. Each and every one of our guests brought something special to the show, which is great from an audience perspective as it invites viewers to continually follow the competition all the way through the season finale.
With so many different themed vehicles throughout Season 1, which has been your personal favorite?
Ted Wu: It’s been amazing to see what our fans have designed each episode. Even crazier is the fact that these teams are actually building these insane vehicles in one week. They really are working around the clock. At then end of the day, though, I’m really happy with all of the cars that appeared in our finale. It was such a close competition that any of the builds could’ve won … but I think we got it right. You’ll have to stay tuned to check it out!
With Season 1 coming to an end, what has been the most exciting and rewarding part of making this show?
Phil Breman: A core part of our live action content is delivering our IPs to families in ways that allow them to interact with the brand in new and exciting ways. Hot Wheels Ultimate Challenge takes a beloved toy and transforms it into a high-octane competition show that has been enjoyed by fans and families week after week. That’s been truly satisfying from a development point of view. The audience’s ability to engage with this unique process is something no one else can offer and we’re thrilled that these expert car creations are resonating with fans.
