If you grew up smashing Matchbox cars into each other on the carpet like it was a demolition derby, Apple TV has just turned your childhood into a full-scale action movie.
Apple TV has revealed first look images from Matchbox The Movie, a new Mattel inspired action adventure starring John Cena as an undercover CIA agent who drags his old crew into chaos. The film is directed by Sam Hargrave (the guy behind Extraction and Extraction II — aka modern stunt heavy carnage done right), and it’s officially set for a global release on October 9th, 2026 (per Hollywood Reporter).
The premise is pure blockbuster fuel, the film follows a group of childhood friends whose lives get flipped upside down when their long absent leader Sean (Cena) returns to their small town.
The catch, he’s now working undercover for the CIA, and his reappearance doesn’t just bring nostalgia, it sparks an international pursuit that turns into a fight to save the world.
Apple describes it as “a globetrotting adventure”, and honestly, that checks out, if Hargrave is behind the wheel, expect a lot of speed, stunts, and bodies flying like they’ve been hit by a toy truck launched at Mach ten.
The cast
Cena isn’t going solo either, the cast includes Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro, with Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Danai Gurira and Golshifteh Farahani also onboard.
Behind the scenes, Matchbox The Movie is an Apple Original Film coming from Skydance Media and Mattel Films, with Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger producing, alongside Robbie Brenner and Ynon Kreiz for Mattel Films.
This is also another sign Mattel isn’t done mining its toybox for cinema, after the Barbie boom, it’s open season on anything with a logo and nostalgia value, but with Hargrave directing, this one has a real chance to be more than just brand wallpaper.
Either way, Cena running from international threats in a Matchbox universe? We’ll take it.
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