Hot Wheels Life Size
Hot Wheels Life Size
Hot Wheels Bone Shaker | Source: Mattel

The wheels are turning again on Mattel Films’ long-awaited Hot Wheels movie.

More than three years since Warner Bros. Pictures and Mattel inked a deal to develop the film, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot has come on board to produce the live-action Hot Wheels. According to Mattel, the film now calls for cars, monster trucks, and motorcycles to share the screen for some high-octane adventure.

“As the global leader in car culture, Hot Wheels has been igniting the challenger spirit in auto enthusiasts for generations,” says Mattel Films Executive Producer Robbie Brenner. “Fans of all ages are now in for the ride of their lives with the incredible talent of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot joining us alongside Warner Bros. Pictures to transform Hot Wheels’ legendary IP into a thrilling story for the big screen.”

1:64-scale Hot Wheels vehicles, including “The Nash” | Source: Mattel

Mattel has been trying to get Hot Wheels into theaters since 2003, when McG, then fresh off the success of Charlie’s Angels, was slated to direct a version for Sony. Other versions included one from producer Joel Silver (The Matrix) and another from Fast and Furious director Justin Lin. In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter said that writers for the latest incarnation had been hired, but it’s been quiet until now.

Related: Exclusive: Mattel — Igniting Kids’ Imaginations at Licensing Expo

Mattel Films Vice President Kevin McKeon and Creative Executive Andrew Scannell are leading Hot Wheels for Mattel while Peter Dodd is leading for Warner Bros. Pictures. Hannah Minghella and Jon Cohen will oversee the project for Bad Robot.

“Before Hot Wheels became the global household name it is today, it was the dream of Elliot Handler, who was inventing and building toy cars at home in his Southern California garage,” says Hannah Minghella, president of motion pictures, Bad Robot. “It’s that imagination, passion, and risk-taking spirit that we want to capture in this film.”

Other Mattel Films in development include titles based on American Girl, BarbieBarneyMagic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, UNOView-Master, and Wishbone. Additionally, Mattel Films is developing the original IP, Christmas Balloon.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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