Marvel and John Cena Power Up in Action-Packed Film Like Fast and Furious!

Danai Gurira, known for her roles in “Black Panther” and “The Walking Dead,” has officially joined the cast of “Matchbox,” a live-action movie adaptation inspired by Mattel’s popular line of die-cast toy vehicles.

She’s not the only Marvel star to join the project. According to Deadline, Corey Stoll is also on board. Stoll portrayed Darren Cross/Yellowjacket/M.O.D.O.K. in “Ant-Man” (2015) and its sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023). He has also been featured in “Billions,” “House of Cards,” and many other productions.

As of now, no additional details about their characters have been revealed. However, more information about the movie’s plot has been disclosed.

“The story is described as a thrilling, globe-trotting adventure focusing on a group of childhood friends who must reunite to prevent a looming global catastrophe and rediscover their friendship along the way,” reads the initial synopsis (via ComingSoon).

Who is in the “Matchbox” cast?

“Matchbox” features an impressive lineup including John Cena (Peacemaker), Jessica Biel (Candy), Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Teyonah Parris (WandaVision), Arturo Castro (Broad City), and Randeep Hooda (Tyler Rake). The project is directed by Sam Hargrave, known for directing the “Tyler Rake” movies starring Chris Hemsworth. The screenplay is co-written by David Coggeshall (The Family Plan) and Jonathan Tropper (Adam Through Time). The movie is a collaborative effort by Apple Original Films, Skydance, and Mattel Films.

A bit of backstory, Matchbox toys were invented by automotive expert Jack Odell in 1953 to solve his daughter’s school issue, where she could only bring a toy if it fit inside a matchbox. When her schoolmates also began requesting these “matchbox cars,” a lasting brand was born. The brand’s commitment to the high standards of authenticity has guided Matchbox for over 70 years, garnering generations of fans. Today, it is said that two Matchbox cars are sold every second around the world.

“For nearly 70 years, Matchbox has held significant cultural importance and has inspired generations of children to unleash their imagination by blending what they see in the world every day with what they dream of in their own worlds,” said Robbie Brenner, one of the movie’s producers, in a statement during the initial announcement of the project in 2022 (via ComingSoon). “We are excited to work with our fantastic partners at Skydance Media to create a big-screen story that evokes the same imaginative spirit of this beloved Mattel franchise and delights fans of all ages.”

“Matchbox” is part of a diverse lineup of Apple films from Skydance that also includes “The Gorge” with Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, “Fountain of Youth” by Guy Ritchie starring Natalie Portman and John Krasinski, the action-adventure “Mayday” featuring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, and “Way of the Warrior Kid,” produced and starring Chris Pratt.

Matchbox, set to debut on Apple TV+, does not yet have a scheduled release date.