Latest news with #BadRobot
Geek Culture
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Hot Wheels' Live-Action Film Steered By 'Wicked' Filmmaker Jon M. Chu
Wicked director Jon M. Chu has been chosen to spearhead the live-action Hot Wheels movie for Warner Bros. According to a press release, the high-throttle motion picture will showcase 'some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles', bringing to life the iconic racing car toy line from Mattel. Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images Though plot details have not been revealed, Mattel Studios president and chief content officer Robbie Brenner explained his rationale for choosing Chu: 'Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life. His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames.' Meanwhile, Chu said in a statement, '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 (…) create an adventure that honours Hot Wheels' legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new.' The film, which was first announced over three years ago, will be produced by J. J. Abrams' company Bad Robot Productions and Chu's Electric Somewhere. Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, who have previously collaborated on Creed II and Netflix's They Cloned Tyrone , are to be the screenwriters. The choice to adapt the Mattel toy line into a live-action film comes hot on the heels of Barbie's massive commercial success, which grossed US$1.44 billion in worldwide markets. With the newfound potential to convert children's toy lines into profitable ventures, Mattel has quickly gotten to work, slating Barney, Polly Pocket, the Uno card game, and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot for film adaptations as well. Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Grande behind-the-scenes on Wicked (2024) Choosing Chu to take the helm for this new project may certainly prove to be the right decision for Mattel to achieve their money-making blockbuster vision, given his recent success with Wicked: Part One, which grossed US$750 million worldwide and garnered 10 Oscar nominations. Chu's repertoire is already expanding, with his name being attached to various projects in development, such as a Play-Doh animated film, a Britney Spears biopic, and a stage-to-screen adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Though Chu looks to have his hands full with the countless new projects he will be involved in, fans can look forward to him gunning his engine as he steers Hot Wheels towards commercial success. Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he's not sleeping, he's highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it's honestly pretty close. Hot Wheels Jon M. Chu wicked movie Wicked Part 1
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Jon M. Chu to direct live-action Hot Wheels movie, Entertainment News
Jon M. Chu is set to direct a live-action Hot Wheels movie. The 45-year-old filmmaker has been hired to direct the movie for Mattel and Warner Bros. Pictures. Robbie Brenner, the president and chief content officer of Mattel Studios, said in statement given to Deadline: "Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life. His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames. "Paired with Juel and Tony's compelling storytelling, this team is uniquely positioned to capture the heart, adrenaline and spirit of Hot Wheels, a leading brand in car culture." Jon is thrilled to be working on it and also "excited to partner with Mattel Studios" on the project. He said: "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 honours Hot Wheels' legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new." Jesse Ehrman, the Warner Bros. Pictures' President of Development and Production, thinks Jon is the perfect director for the project. Jesse said: "Jon is a visionary director and an incredible partner to Warner Bros. We are thrilled to have him join us, along with the talented writing duo of Juel and Tony. "With our collaborators at Bad Robot and Mattel Studios, we can't wait to bring Hot Wheels to life on the big screen." Jon's previous directing credits include Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked. The acclaimed filmmaker previously explained how a meeting with Steven Spielberg changed his life. Speaking to NPR, Jon shared: "I got to go to the Dreamworks office, which is, you know, overwhelming when you're 22 years old. I was prepared to tell him how much I loved him. And all he did was tell me what he loved about my short [film]… He invited me to his set to visit him and watch him direct. And it was the most encouraging, beautiful thing that someone could do… "It was a masterclass for me to watch... He gave me a seat next to him. I'm sharing candy with him and this musical number that he was shooting, it wasn't happening… I saw him totally calm, never panic, and he just said, 'No, we're going to switch this camera. Forget that whole thing. We're going to switch the camera here, do this, do that.' And the whole machine moved. And he was just right back at the seat with me, and it kept going." [[nid:719936]]
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hot Wheels Movie Finds Acclaimed Director for Live-Action Film
Wicked director Jon M. Chu has officially been tapped to helm Warner Bros.' upcoming live-action movie based on Mattel's popular toy car franchise. This marks Chu's latest collaboration with the studio after previously working together on 2018's Crazy Rich Asians adaptation and 2021's In the Heights movie. 'Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed — it's about imagination, connection and the thrill of play,' Chu said in a statement. '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.' Chu will be directing the Hot Wheels movie from a screenplay written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier. Further details about its plot are still being kept under wraps, but it is being described as an action movie that will showcase 'some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles.' The Hot Wheels franchise was first introduced by its inventor and Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler in 1968. 'Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life,' Mattel Studios boss Robbie Brenner. 'His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames. Paired with Juel and Tony's compelling storytelling, this team is uniquely positioned to capture the heart, adrenaline, and spirit of Hot Wheels, a leading brand in car culture.' The project will be produced by J.J. Abrams' company, Bad Robot Productions, and Chu's Electric Somewhere. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director has been attached to the adaptation since 2022. Producers are Brenner, Chu, Abrams, and Michael Bostick. It is a production by Mattel Studios and Warner Bros. (Source: Deadline) The post Hot Wheels Movie Finds Acclaimed Director for Live-Action Film appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jon M. Chu to direct live-action Hot Wheels film
Jon M. Chu is set to direct a live-action Hot Wheels movie. The 45-year-old filmmaker has been hired to direct the live-action movie for Mattel and Warner Bros. Pictures. Robbie Brenner, the president and chief content officer of Mattel Studios, said in statement given to Deadline: "Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life. His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames. "Paired with Juel and Tony's compelling storytelling, this team is uniquely positioned to capture the heart, adrenaline, and spirit of Hot Wheels, a leading brand in car culture." Jon is thrilled to be working on the live-action Hot Wheels movie. The director is also "excited to partner with Mattel Studios" on the project. He said: "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 honours Hot Wheels' legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new." Jesse Ehrman, the Warner Bros. Pictures' President of Development and Production, thinks Jon is the perfect director for the project. Jesse said: "Jon is a visionary director and an incredible partner to Warner Bros. We are thrilled to have him join us, along with the talented writing duo of Juel and Tony. "With our collaborators at Bad Robot and Mattel Studios, we can't wait to bring Hot Wheels to life on the big screen." Jon's previous directing credits include Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked. The acclaimed filmmaker previously explained how a meeting with Steven Spielberg changed his life. Speaking to NPR, Jon shared: "I got to go to the Dreamworks office, which is, you know, overwhelming when you're 22 years old. I was prepared to tell him how much I loved him. And all he did was tell me what he loved about my short [film] … He invited me to his set to visit him and watch him direct. And it was the most encouraging, beautiful thing that someone could do … "It was a masterclass for me to watch ... He gave me a seat next to him. I'm sharing candy with him and this musical number that he was shooting, it wasn't happening … I saw him totally calm, never panic, and he just said, 'No, we're going to switch this camera. Forget that whole thing. We're going to switch the camera here, do this, do that.' And the whole machine moved. And he was just right back at the seat with me, and it kept going."
The Verge
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Wicked's Jon M. Chu will direct Mattel's live-action Hot Wheels movie
Hoping to recapture the popularity of the Barbie movie that grossed over $1.44 billion worldwide, toy maker Mattel has announced that Wicked's Jon M. Chu will direct its upcoming live-action Hot Wheels movie, with Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, whose credits include Creed II and They Cloned Tyrone, writing the script. The film was first announced over three years ago with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot also producing, but there are still no plot details aside from it being a 'high-octane action film' that will feature 'some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles.' With Apple's F1 having taken in over $290 million at the box office in just 10 days, there's potentially a renewed interest from audiences for movies featuring fast cars — or at least full-sized ones. Chu is best known for his directorial work on films that include Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights, and Wicked, which received 10 Oscar nominations and has grossed over $750 million ahead of the sequel hitting theaters on November 21st. 'Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life. His films are visual spectacles—true eye candy—but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames,' says Robbie Brenner, President of Mattel Studios, in a press release from the toy maker today. Following the success of Barbie, Mattel announced several other film projects based on its most popular toy lines, in addition to Hot Wheels. These include movies based on Polly Pocket, the Masters of the Universe, the Magic 8 Ball, the card game Uno, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and the American Girl Doll.
