1/30/2019 — Variety Magazine is reporting that Mattel and Warner Bros. are working together to produce the first Hot Wheels live-action film. Apparently the two companies have previously reached an agreement to make a live-action, Barbie movie featuring Margot Robbie.

It will be interesting to see how far this project progresses as Hot Wheels collectors have been craving such movie since the idea was initially teased in 2003 following the full-length animated feature Hot Wheels Highway 35 World Race (2003). Back then it was McG who was tabbed as director and the idea seemed to have a full head of steam behind it, even being announced to collectors at a 2003 Hot Wheels convention. Ultimately that movie never happened.

Several years ago, the idea of a live-action Hot Wheels movie was brought up again. This time, Justin Lin was tabbed to direct it as this idea seemed more plausible considering the success of the Transformers and Fast & Furious movie franchises. There was even a list of actors floating around as it appeared the movie was in the casting stages. Again, the idea grew stale. As the article reports, “the option expired, Mattel took the rights back to the market”.

Will this time be different?

For those of us that still are holding onto the hope that there will someday be a live-action Hot Wheels movie, we now have a glimmer of hope as Mattel recently founded the Mattel Films portion of the company in hopes of cashing in on some of their intellectual property via the silver screen. Still, to us movie savvy, Hot Wheels collectors who have seen this before, we must wait with bated breathe as we yearn for the movie we have all been dreaming of since our childhood.