John Cena’s “Matchbox ”movie trailer gives first look at Mattel’s next toy movie after “Masters of the Universe”
John Cena’s “Matchbox ”movie trailer gives first look at Mattel’s next toy movie after “Masters of the Universe”
Rance CollinsSat, July 25, 2026 at 9:50 PM UTC
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John Cena in ‘Matchbox the Movie’Credit: Mattel StudiosKey Points -
Matchbox the Movie, starring John Cena and Jessica Biel, premieres Oct. 9 on Apple TV.
The feature-length action film follows the success of Barbie and Masters of the Universe in the Mattel Cinematic Universe.
Star John Cena leads an ensemble out to save the world, with the help of some awesome vehicles, of course.
The Mattel Cinematic Universe is continuing to go to worlds heretofore unknown in filmdom.
While branded film and television content have existed for decades under the toy company’s banner, the mammoth success of 2023’s Barbie launched the franchise into a new stratosphere. Now with Masters of the Universe also under its belt, John Cena plays a CIA agent intent on saving the world, with the help of his friends and some awesome vehicles, of course.
Arturo Castro, Jessica Biel, John Cena, Teyonah Parris, and Sam Richardson in ‘Matchbox the Movie’Credit: Mattel Studios
As the official synopsis reads, “Inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, Matchbox the Movie is an action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and unwittingly gets them embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.”
The trailer premiered at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25 with Cena appearing alongside fellow cast members Jessica Biel, Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson, and Teyonah Parris.
Watch below.
Matchbox was acquired by Mattel in 1997, though the brand dates back to the 1950s. According to its entry in the National Toy Hall of Fame, the tiny cars, originally produced by Lesney Products, were created by Jack Odell, whose daughter was only permitted to bring toys to school that could fit inside a matchbox.
The brand became an international phenomenon, known the world over, with a wide variety of different vehicles in its collection.
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‘Matchbox the Movie’ will premiere on Oct. 9Credit: Mattel Studios
Cena teased the movie in an interview with Extra earlier this year.
“We got a great cast, and we kind of have gone around the world on an incredible thrill ride. But it truly is a story about friends reconnecting with each other, and it’s a bit of a love story in there too, with a ton of practical action,” he said.
He continued to explain his own history with the toys, saying, “My earliest memories as a kid are with Matchbox cars. I had a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 that was red, but I wore all the paint off of it. I’m crazy about cars. I’m a petrolhead, and ... that origin story comes from those Matchbox cars. And trust me, we wouldn’t be making this movie if Matchbox was an afterthought.”
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The cast also includes Danai Gurira, Golshifteh Farahani, Corey Stoll, and Bill Camp. Directed and executive produced by Sam Hargrave, Matchbox was written by David Coggeshall and is produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Robbie Brenner, and Jules Daly. Patrick Newall and Elizabeth Bassin serve as executive producers. It is a co-production between Mattel Studios, Apple Original Films, and Skydance Media.
Matchbox the Movie speeds onto Apple TV on Oct. 9.
Check out more of EW’s coverage from San Diego Comic-Con 2026.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
