Hollywood can turn anything into a movie these days. People fail to realize how influential the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was to the kind of movies that Hollywood greenlights. Before Pirates of the Caribbean, the conventional wisdom was making a film about a ride or toy was an impossible feat, as there wasn't enough story to justify a two-hour commitment from an audience.
However, when Pirates of the Caribbean made absurd profits in conjunction with garnering copious critical praise, Hollywood realized that nothing was off-limits regarding film adaptations. In the decades following Pirates of the Caribbean, we got two Lego movies, an Emoji movie and a Battleship movie. It's kind of shocking to think we haven't gotten a Mcdonald's movie yet, but I don't wanna give Tinsletown any ideas.
Keeping the focus on films inspired by toys, according to Deadline, Bad Robot-the JJ Abrams-led production house that helmed the Star Trek reboot series and Star Wars sequels-is gearing up to produce a Hot Wheels movie.
Mattel is putting gas in the tank of its Warner Bros–Bad Robot movie Hot Wheels with writers Dalton Leeb and Nicholas Jacobson-Larson boarding to pen the live-action adaptation of the 54-year old racecar toys.
Robbie Brenner, EP for Mattel Films, will lead the project alongside VP Kevin McKeon, VP and creative executive Andrew Scannell. Hannah Minghella and Jon Cohen are overseeing for Bad Robot.
In addition to Hot Wheels, the Mattel Films development slate features movies based on American Girl, Barney, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Matchbox, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, Uno, View-Master and Wish Bone. Mattel Films is also developing Christmas Balloon based on all-new IP, and the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will hit theaters July 21.
