Skydance and Mattel, Inc. announced plans to develop Matchbox, its iconic real-world die-cast toy vehicle line, into a live-action motion picture. The legendary Matchbox brand was invented in 1953 by automotive expert and enthusiast Jack Odell to solve a challenge for his daughter, who was allowed to take a toy to school only if it was small enough to fit in a matchbox. When his daughter's school friends began clamoring for a “matchbox car,” an iconic brand was born.

The high standards of authenticity for Matchbox die-cast cars have driven the brand for nearly 70 years. One Matchbox car is sold every second. For Mattel Films, the Matchbox project will be led by Vice President Elizabeth Bassin and Creative Executive Andrew Scannell.

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Aimee Rivera will oversee for Skydance Media. The screenplay will be written by three-time Black Lister David Coggeshall, who wrote the upcoming Orphan: First Kill for Paramount as well as Lee Daniels's untitled Netflix possession thriller currently filming in Pittsburgh and drafts of Thundercats for Warner Bros. In addition to Matchbox, the Mattel Films development slate features movies for American Girl, Barney, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, UNO, View-Master, and Wishbone.

Mattel Films is also developing Christmas Balloon, a holiday family drama based on all-new IP. Its Barbie movie is currently in production.