Matchbox Movie to Be Released in Fall 2026
Apple Original Films, Skydance Media, and Mattel Studios have announced that the live-action Matchbox movie will be released in the fall of 2026. The film’s logo was also released.
Starring John Cena and inspired by Mattel’s iconic real-world die-cast toy vehicle line of the same name, Matchbox is directed by Sam Hargrave (Extraction, Extraction II).
The Matchbox movie is based on a screenplay by David Coggeshall (The Family Plan, Orphan: First Kill). The cast also includes Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, Arturo Castro, Danai Gurira, and Corey Stoll.
The legendary Matchbox brand was invented in 1953 by automotive enthusiast Jack Odell to solve a challenge for his daughter, who was allowed to take a toy to school only if it was small enough to fit in a matchbox. When his daughter’s school friends began clamoring for a “matchbox car,” an iconic brand was born.
The high standards of authenticity for Matchbox die-cast cars have driven the brand for over 70 years and generations of fans. Today, two Matchbox cars are sold every second somewhere around the world.
Matchbox merchandise is available now through print-on-demand. Fans can expect new products and additional apparel inspired by the new Matchbox movie to arrive at retailers globally this summer; more details will be announced in the coming months.
The film is produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger for Skydance Media; Jules Daly; and Ynon Kreiz and Robbie Brenner for Mattel Studios, with Elizabeth Bassin serving as executive producer.
In addition to Matchbox, Apple Original Films produced by Skydance Media include the Emmy Award-nominated high-action, genre-bending film The Gorge starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy; Fountain of Youth, the star-studded feature from Guy Ritchie starring Natalie Portman and John Krasinski; upcoming action-adventure film Mayday with Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh set to star in the lead roles; and, Way of the Warrior Kid, the inspiring new film directed by McG and starring and produced by Chris Pratt.
Apple Original Films and Skydance have also partnered with writer Coggeshall on The Family Plan and The Family Plan 2, the action-comedy features starring Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg.
