John Cena’s Matchbox Movie Trailer Takes Toy Cars to New Heights Like Barbie

During the San Diego Comic-Con panel for Apple TV, the first trailer for Matchbox The Movie was unveiled. Following the trend set by 2023’s Barbie, this film, featuring John Cena, is inspired by the Matchbox toy line from Mattel.

While Barbie offered a meta-commentary on themes like feminism and misogyny, the Matchbox trailer leans into a more action-packed, Fast & Furious vibe. Cena stars as Sean, an undercover CIA agent who finds himself embroiled in a global conspiracy alongside his childhood friends. The connection to Matchbox comes from Sean’s friends, who refer to themselves as the ‘Matchbox gang’ due to their shared childhood experiences with the toys.

The trailer also highlights a strong cast, including Jessica Biel, Teyonah Parris, Sam Richardson, and Danai Gurira, making Matchbox The Movie a noteworthy ensemble.

Mattel Studios and Skydance have been developing this adaptation since 2022, even before Barbie’s release. Production gained momentum when director Sam Hargrave, known for Extraction, joined the project in 2024, with filming wrapping up in 2025, leading to its upcoming release.

Matchbox The Movie will mark the second film from Mattel Studios this year, following June’s Masters of the Universe. While these Mattel films are still in the shadow of Barbie, which became a cultural sensation and garnered multiple Oscar nominations, Matchbox seems to aim for a different audience. It appears to be more of a fun, action-driven experience rather than an awards contender, filling the gap left by the absence of a new Fast & Furious installment. This film also stands out from Apple TV’s other Comic-Con offerings, which include horror series like Widow’s Bay and sci-fi shows such as Dark Matter and Silo.

Mark your calendars for the release of Matchbox The Movie on Apple TV on October 9.