Summary
A live-actionHot Wheelsmovie 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 theHot Wheels Unleashedseriesand an impressiveForza Horizon 5DLC. Despite the perceived lack of momentum on theHot Wheelsmovie, it looks like development has taken an enormous leap forward, landing a lauded director.
According toDeadline,WickedandCrazy Rich Asiansdirector Jon M. Chu has signed on to helm theHot Wheelsmovie for Warner Bros.Chu has proven himself across various genres, having directedStep Up 2: The Streets,G.I. Joe: Retaliation, andNow You See Me 2, and he has the second part ofWickeddue out later this year.Hot Wheelsis 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 TheHot WheelsMovie Going To Be About?
While there are adult collectors ofHot 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 aFast & Furiousfilm, 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 toHot Wheels, the final film could end up resembling something closer toThe Lego MoviethanaFast & Furiousfilm. AsThe Lego Movieshowed, 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 theHot Wheelsmovie will ultimately become. Details about theHot Wheelsmovie will continue to be forthcoming as Chu’s work gets underway, likely gaining traction later this year following the release ofWicked: For Good.
