If you’ve watched Apple TV+’s “The Studio,” you’re aware that Seth Rogen’s character Matt Remick faces a significant challenge as a studio head: producing a movie based on Kool-Aid. While this might sound implausible, consider the existence of a “Battleship” film. Before “Battleship,” however, there was “Transformers,” which demonstrated that a film centered around a toy could be financially successful. Given that both Mattel and Hasbro appear determined to bring their iconic toys to life on the big screen, it seems we’re on the brink of a wave of cinema inspired by toys. There are several such films in development, and we’ll explore them.
To be considered for this list, there should be significant progress made in the project. Therefore, we’ve excluded speculative films like those based on the View-Master (the vintage 3D image viewer), Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots (announced as a Vin Diesel film in 2021 but lacking any notable advancement), and Uno (also announced in 2021, but appears stagnant). As for Uno, we’re focusing on movies based on toys, while board or card games might not quite fit the mold. My apologies to the upcoming Monopoly and Clue films.
1) My Little Pony
Kickstarting our discussion is an exciting new project – the live-action adaptation of the beloved toy series, “My Little Pony.” This project is among several that Hasbro Entertainment plans to bring to the silver screen.
The “My Little Pony” film is jointly produced by Hasbro and Amazon MGM Studios, indicating substantial financial backing. Consequently, it’s expected that toy sales will see a significant increase, regardless of the movie’s box office performance. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time “My Little Pony” has been adapted; there have been animated specials, several TV series, and two theatrical animated movies, one from 1986 and another from 2017.
2) Hot Wheels
Following the triumph of Barbie, Mattel promptly unveiled a series of film projects centered around their popular intellectual properties, such as Hot Wheels. This is certainly exciting news for those who have dreamt of a Hot Wheels movie, as this idea has been in discussion for more than two decades. As far back as 2003, McG, known for Charlie’s Angels, was slated to direct the film under Columbia Pictures. However, when Fast Five performed well in 2011, efforts to bring the Hot Wheels project back to life were renewed, but unfortunately, it never moved forward.
2020 rolled around and I, a movie enthusiast, found myself eagerly anticipating another installment of this beloved IP. Yet, once again, the project seemed to hit a dead end. The tide began to change in 2022 when Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot came on board as the production company. There was a brief pause, but then in 2023, Dalton Leeb and Nicholas Jacobson-Larson – known for their work on “The Dead of Winter” – joined the team as writers. However, it remains to be seen if any of their ideas will make it into the final product, given that Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, who have been working on “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” are now handling the script, and Jon M. Chu – director of hits like “Step Up 3D,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” and the upcoming “Wicked” – has taken the helm. This dynamic duo was officially announced on July 7, 2025, suggesting that we might be in for a thrilling ride!
3) Barbie 2
While it’s true that “Barbie” stands strong as an independent film, its extraordinary box office success of $1.447 billion against a production cost of just $145 million makes the idea of not having a sequel seem highly unlikely. Moreover, the film’s Academy Award nomination for Best Picture gives Warner Bros. Pictures compelling reasons to consider a follow-up.
At this point, there’s no official announcement about Barbie 2, but Illumination Entertainment, known for Despicable Me, is working on an animated Barbie movie. It’s unclear whether this will be a direct sequel (considering the live-action film had a somewhat meta approach) or a shift in direction. The details are yet to be revealed.
4) Masters of the Universe
A film based on the character He-Man, titled “Masters of the Universe” released in 1987 by The Cannon Group, starring Dolph Lundgren. Now, almost four decades later, another adaptation from director Travis Knight (known for “Bumblebee” and “Kubo and the Two Strings”) is set to premiere in theaters on June 5, 2026.
In the upcoming film “The Craft: Legacy,” Nicholas Galitzine is taking on the character previously known as He-Man, while Camila Mendes will portray Teela, his trusted sergeant. Jared Leto assumes the legendary role of Skeletor, a part brilliantly played by Frank Langella in the 1987 movie. Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin, Sasheer Zamata, and James Purefoy join the cast to complete this ensemble. The production for the new film has already been completed, so keep an eye out for its release soon.
5) Matchbox
As a die-hard movie enthusiast, for well over a year now, I’ve been eagerly anticipating John Cena’s involvement in the upcoming “Matchbox” film. This project, alongside the long-awaited “Masters of the Universe,” seems to be edging ever closer to gracing our screens. The “Matchbox” movie will reportedly be directed by Sam Hargrave, who’s known for his exceptional work on the Chris Hemsworth-led Netflix productions, “Extraction.” The script for this film is in capable hands with writers David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper. Coggeshall, a master of both somber and lighter narratives, has penned works like “Orphan: First Kill” and “The Family Plan.” On the other hand, Tropper, renowned for his popular novel “This Is Where I Leave You” and creator of shows such as “Banshee” and Apple TV+’s hit series “Your Friends and Neighbors,” brings a unique blend of wit and depth to the table.
Cena’s upcoming movie will feature Sam Richardson from Veep, Jessica Biel, Teyonah Parris known for her role in The Marvels, Corey Stoll famous for Ant-Man, and Danie Gurira recognized for Black Panther. This film is slated to be released sometime in Fall 2026 and will be available on Apple TV+ for viewing.
6) Polly Pocket
It was once planned for Lena Dunham, known for her work on “Girls,” to direct the Polly Pocket movie, but it appears she’s no longer involved in the project. It remains uncertain whether this film project has been cancelled entirely.
When Dunham was appointed as director, it was during this time that Lily Collins landed the lead role in Emily in Paris. Given that Mattel is determined to emulate the success of Barbie, casting Collins in a leading role for Polly Pocket appears to be a logical move for the company.
7) Monster High
Ever since its debut in 2010, Monster High has proven to be a significant financial success for Mattel. Similar to Barbie and American Girl, it offers buyers a chance to purchase a doll that holds a certain resemblance to themselves. However, unlike the former two, these dolls are themed around monster movies, thriller literature, and mythology.
Just like the other items on the list, Monster High has already seen significant growth due to its financial success. This expansion includes 15 animated TV specials/movies, video games, and young adult novels. In addition, it’s been turned into a live-action film, such as 2022’s Monster High: The Movie on Nickelodeon. However, it’s now set to receive an even broader release, as Gerard Johnstone, director of M3GAN, was chosen for the role back in early June this year.
8) American Girl
A film based on an American Girl doll was announced in the year 2023, much like Transformers and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, it was confirmed as a Paramount production. Given the vastness and popularity of this intellectual property, it’s no surprise that multiple American Girl films have already been produced. Among them is the 2008 theatrical release, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, which starred Abigail Breslin.
It remains uncertain if this movie will have a lower production cost, considering that Kit Kittredge was made for only $10 million. However, we can confirm one detail about it – it’s being penned and directed by Lindsey Anderson Beer, who previously tried her hand at directing with the distinctly different Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.
9) G.I. Joe and Transformers Crossover Movie
In the closing scenes of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”, character Anthony Ramos’ Noah Diaz finds himself at a job interview. However, this job isn’t just about security; it involves the G.I. Joe team as well.
2023 saw me buzzing with excitement as I learned, just before the wide release of “Rise of the Beasts” in June, that a thrilling crossover between “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” was on its way! The news definitely set my movie-loving heart racing, and it was officially confirmed at CinemaCon the following year. Fast forward to 2025, and I was taken aback when it was revealed that Michael Bay, the mastermind behind the original “Transformers” franchise, would be making a triumphant return! The plan is to start production before 2029, when Paramount will lose the film rights. I can hardly wait!
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2025-07-21 20:52