Matchbox Movie Images Reveal John Cena & Apple TV’s Action-Packed Adaptation Of Classic Toy

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John Cena is strapping in for a new car-based franchise in the first images for Matchbox.

Directed by Sam Hargrave, known for his work on Extraction, this movie is based on the classic Matchbox toy line. The story follows John Cena as Sean, a CIA agent who returns home after a failed mission and accidentally pulls his old friends into a global adventure. The cast also includes Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Danai Gurira, and Corey Stoll.

Apple TV recently shared the first images from the upcoming Matchbox movie as part of its presentation of films and shows planned for 2026. The photos show John Cena’s character speeding through city streets, a scene with him and his friends entering a building that feels like something from the Fast & Furious movies, and a high-energy sequence with various vehicles. Apple TV also confirmed the movie will be available worldwide on October 9th. You can see the images below.

As a big fan of Mattel’s toy adaptations, I’m really excited about Matchbox! It’s their third movie after the huge success of Barbie. What’s even cooler is that they’ve got two big releases planned for 2026. We’ll get the John Cena action movie on October 9th, and before that, finally, the Masters of the Universe reboot is coming out on June 5th! It’s going to be a great year for fans of these classic toys.

Matchbox is continuing its successful collaboration with Skydance on Apple TV+, building on recent momentum. While their first two films, the animated movie Luck and the war drama The Greatest Beer Run Ever, had a mixed reception, the streamer has since seen major hits with The Family Plan, starring Mark Wahlberg, and Scott Derrickson’s The Gorge. Both of these films broke Apple TV’s records for the most-watched original film premieres.

While the initial images are somewhat broad, they give a clear sense of what to expect from the movie Matchbox. Director Hargrave appears to be prioritizing practical effects and real stunts, as demonstrated by a scene of cars speeding down a highway. This positions the film as a strong successor to the Fast and Furious franchise for John Cena, especially considering his character’s fate in Fast X.

The images from the upcoming film suggest it’s taking a creative, rather than strictly faithful, approach to the Matchbox brand. Unlike Hot Wheels, which has previously explored original stories, Matchbox hasn’t really delved into storytelling. This gives director Simon West and writers David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper a lot of freedom to create their own narrative for the screen. The film features a wide range of vehicles, mirroring the variety of Matchbox toys, and boasts a strong cast. It will be interesting to see how well this film connects with audiences who remember the classic Mattel brand.

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2026-02-04 02:28