The firm behind the well-known Barbie brand, Mattel, intends to broaden its intellectual property with an ambitious slate of 14 new feature films, all of which are now in various stages of development. These films will be based on different Mattel toys and characters in an effort to establish a franchise like Disney‘s.
The recent success of the Barbie movie, which brought in an incredible $337 million over its opening weekend, has inspired Mattel to consider new projects and future sequels. Among the future projects are a surrealistic Barney adaptation, a J.J. Abrams-produced Hot Wheels movie, and a Lena Dunham-helmed Polly Pocket movie.
The adult-oriented Barney movie, produced by Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya, will explore themes of identity and alienation. Polly Pocket, a miniature-sized toy, will be turned into a film written and directed by Lena Dunham and starring Lily Collins. Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams is producing a grounded and gritty Hot Wheels movie that promises emotional characters.
Vin Diesel is set to star in a movie adaptation of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Ryan Engle is writing the script. Additionally, Mattel has plans for a live-action He-Man adaptation and a film featuring the astronaut figurine Major Matt Mason, to be played by Tom Hanks. Other projects include a PG-13 thriller based on the Magic 8 Ball and a movie centred on the UNO card game.
Furthermore, Mattel is working on an American Girl movie aimed at empowering young girls, and a fantasy film adaptation of Thomas & Friends directed by Marc Forster. Among the projects, there’s also a heartwarming true story titled “Christmas Balloon,” where a young girl’s Christmas wish list is found by a grieving couple who collaborate with the toy company to make her dreams come true.
With Mattel’s ambitious plans and a diverse range of projects, the company aims to create a successful ‘Mattelverse,’ leveraging its established brands to captivate audiences and extend its reach from toys to the big screen.
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