The Matchbox movie cast is growing, with THR’s Heat Vision newsletter reporting that Teyonah Parris is in talks to star alongside John Cena in the upcoming movie based on the legendary Matchbox brand.
Parris will appear alongside Cena — who was cast in the film earlier this year — as well Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson in the movie that’s set to be written by David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper. Like its name suggests, the movie will be based on the iconic real-world die-cast toy vehicle line from Mattel.
Parris is best known for her role as Dawn Chambers in the hit AMC series Mad Men, as well as the film Dear White People, the drama series Empire, and her role as Monica Rambeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What do we know about the Matchbox movie?
Elsewhere in the Heat Vision newsletter, the first plot details for the Matchbox movie were detailed. While no major details were released, the report notes that the film is being described as ” action-packed, globetrotting adventure and centers on a group of childhood friends who must work together to stop an impending worldwide disaster and rediscover their friendship along the way.”
The live-action Matchbox movie will be directed by Sam Hargrave, who’s best known for helming Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction movies. Matchbox was created by automotive expert Jack Odell in 1953 for Lesney Products. In 1997, the toy brand was officially acquired by Mattel. The screenplay is co-written by David Coggeshall (The Family Plan) and Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project). It hails from Apple Original Films, Skydance, and Mattel Films, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Robbie Brenner serving as producers.
“For nearly 70 years, Matchbox has carried enormous cultural relevance and inspired generations of kids to unleash their imaginations, combining what they see in the world every day with what they dream their own world to be,” Brenner said in a previous statement when the project was first announced back in 2022. “We look forward to working with our incredible partners at Skydance Media to craft a story for the big screen that evokes the same, imaginative spirit of this beloved Mattel franchise and delights fans of all ages.”
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)
