Summary
- Warner Bros. And Mattel Studios are developing a live-action Hot Wheels movie.
- Director of Wicked and Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu, has signed on to direct Hot Wheels.
- Chu's vision for the toy line could embrace a unique approach.
A live-action Hot Wheels movie is in development with the director of one of 2024's biggest films. Hot Wheels is a brand of die-cast toy cars first produced by Mattel in 1968. The Hot Wheels toy line was meant to compete with Matchbox cars, which ruled the marketplace until Mattel offered a rival, selling over 8 billion cars to become the best-selling toy in the world.
Warner Bros. And Mattel Studios first announced their intent to produce a film based on the Hot Wheels toy line in 2019. Since then, fans have been informed of J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot coming onboard to help produce and potential writers working on the script. While the movie has seen little traction, the brand has continued to thrive in recent years, even finding its footing in video games, with the Hot Wheels Unleashed series and an impressive Forza Horizon 5 DLC. Despite the perceived lack of momentum on the Hot Wheels movie, it looks like development has taken an enormous leap forward, landing a lauded director.
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According to Deadline, Wicked and Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu has signed on to helm the Hot Wheels movie for Warner Bros. Chu has proven himself across various genres, having directed Step Up 2: The Streets, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Now You See Me 2, and he has the second part of Wicked due out later this year. Hot Wheels is described as an action film, but little is known about the plot. However, in a statement, Chu spoke highly of the toy line and his approach:
Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed — it’s about imagination, connection and the thrill of play. Bringing that spirit to the big screen is an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to partner with Mattel Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Bad Robot to create an adventure that honors Hot Wheels’ legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new.
What Is The Hot Wheels Movie Going To Be About?
While there are adult collectors of Hot Wheels, the product was initially intended for children, meaning the movie is most likely to be as well. The movie is expected to lean into racing aspects, much like a Fast & Furious film, but it will likely be toned down for more family-friendly audiences. Given Chu's comments about embracing imagination, the movie may also embrace the bright tracks and loops fans love to build with, making for a distinctly different film.
With Chu's approach to Hot Wheels, the final film could end up resembling something closer to The Lego Movie than a Fast & Furious film. As The Lego Movie showed, creatives can embrace the imagination of a child playing to inspire an emotional throughline in the core story playing out among the toys. It was a bold strategy that paid off hugely for Lego, which Mattel can copy as they continue to develop what the Hot Wheels movie will ultimately become. Details about the Hot Wheels movie will continue to be forthcoming as Chu's work gets underway, likely gaining traction later this year following the release of Wicked: For Good.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 59%
- Released
- September 20, 2021
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Milestone
- Publisher(s)
- Milestone
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing
Source: Deadline