Latest news with #MattelStudios
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jon M. Chu to Direct ‘Hot Wheels' Movie for Warner Bros., Mattel
Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked director Jon M. Chu is set to helm the live-action Hot Wheels feature, the big screen take on Mattel's iconic toy cars for Warner Bros. The screenwriting duo of Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier will pen the script, with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, which has longstanding ties with Warner Bros., and Chu's Electric Somewhere producing. More from The Hollywood Reporter Box Office: 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Hatches New Era for Dino Franchise With $323M Global Bow James Gunn Says 'Superman' Is About an "Immigrant That Came From Other Places" Michael Madsen, 'Reservoir Dogs' Actor, Dies at 67 The hiring of the director and writers is a major development for the project that originated with Warner teaming with Mattel Studios in January 2019 to develop and produce a big-screen project. The action film promises to bring the iconic Hot Wheels franchise to the movies screen. '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.,' Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Studios and chief content officer, said in a statement on Monday. The collaboration between Warner Bros. and Mattel Studios follows the box-office success of the Greta Gerwig-directed Warner Bros. tentpole Barbie. Chu added in his own 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 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 recently directed Universal Pictures' Wicked starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. He also directed In the Heights for Warner Bros. The film's producers — including Mattel as it looks to its toy properties to become a franchise-driven entertainment giant — have yet to lift the hood on the movie's plotline. 'We already felt incredibly lucky to collaborate with Mattel on this special film. Having Jon, Juel and Tony come aboard takes our excitement to a whole new level,' said Abrams in his own statement. Taylor and Rettenmaier have worked on projects like Creed II and They Cloned Tyrone, which marked Taylor's directorial debut. Brenner is producing for Mattel Studios alongside Chu, Abrams and Michael Bostick. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
AsiaOne
5 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]]
6 days ago
- Entertainment
'Wicked' director Jon M. Chu to direct live-action Hot Wheels film for Mattel
Jon M. Chu is going from singing witches to toy cars. The " Wicked" director is set to helm a live-action Hot Wheels film, Mattel and Warner Bros. Pictures announced Monday. " Creed II" screenwriters Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier are writing the film's script, while J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions will produce. The film will be inspired by the Hot Wheels cars, which are the world's bestselling toys, according to a press release from Mattel. "The high-octane action film will bring the beloved, multi-generational Hot Wheels franchise to life, showcasing some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles," an official description of the film reads. Chu said that 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," Chu said in a press release. "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." Robbie Brenner, the president of Mattel Studios and the chief content officer of Mattel, explained in a statement why Chu was the right director for the project. "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," Brenner said. "His films are visual spectacles -- true eye candy -- but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames." Chu's upcoming sequel film "Wicked: For Good" arrives in theaters Nov. 21.
Perth Now
6 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."
Mint
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Wicked' filmmaker Jon M Chu to direct live-action hot wheels movie for Mattel
Director Jon M. Chu has officially signed on to direct a live-action Hot Wheels movie, a major collaboration between Mattel and Warner Bros. Pictures. The film will be based on the iconic toy car brand and is being developed by a powerhouse creative team. The script will be written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, the duo known for their work on Creed II and They Cloned Tyrone. The film will be produced by JJ Abrams' Bad Robot, Chu's Electric Somewhere, and Mattel Studios. Robbie Brenner, President and Chief Content Officer of Mattel Studios, will lead production along with Chu, Abrams, and Michael Bostic. Multiple executives from Warner Bros. Pictures, Mattel Studios, Bad Robot, and Electric Somewhere are also on board to oversee the project. In a statement to Deadline, Brenner praised Chu's visual style and storytelling, saying, '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.' She added that pairing Chu with writers Juel and Tony brings together a team that can truly capture the heart, adrenaline, and spirit of Hot Wheels, a brand that's long been part of car culture around the world. Jon M. Chu has a busy slate ahead. He is co-directing 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' with Jill Culton, a film set to release on March 17, 2028, featuring music by La La Land's Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. He's also directing 'Split Fiction' starring Sydney Sweeney, an upcoming video game adaptation for Amazon MGM Studios. Chu is widely recognised for his work on 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'In the Heights', and is represented by Artists First, UTA, and Goodman Genow Schenkman.
