‘Hot Wheels’ Movie Hires Two Writers, So It’s Really Happening This Time, Right, Guys?…Guys?
Hollywood has been trying to get aHot Wheelsmovie off the starting line for almost twenty years, but after skidding into a roadblock or two, the project finally appears to be back on track.
Warner Bros. and Mattel have hired two screenwriters for theHot Wheelsfilm, which means that it’s finally, definitely, probably, maybe, actually happening this time.
The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news that screenwriting teamNeil WidenerandGavin Jameshave been hired to write the script for a Hot Wheels movie based on the popular toy line of tiny cars. Widener and James don’t have any produced screenplay credits yet, but they’re working on the sequel to Dwayne Johnson’s disaster thrillerSan Andreas, as well as the magic-focused heist sequelNow You See Me 3.
THR says these guys participated in a Warner Bros. “bake off” in which the studio asked for treatments for an idea for aHot Wheelsfilm, and this duo’s treatment ended up beating out more recognizable names to win them the writing gig. Unfortunately, it’s unclear what their take is for this project. Is it aFast & Furiousstyle racing thriller? A madcap, cross-country road trip movie in the vein ofCannonball Run? ALEGO Movie-style meta comedy which leans into the ridiculous idea that this is all based on a toy? It’s a mystery…for now.
In 2003, years before /Film had even been founded, Columbia hired McG (Charlie’s Angels) to direct aHot Wheelsmovie about a kid who steals his dad’s race car and has to reconcile their relationship. McG left the project in his rearview mirror in 2006 for the greener pastures of, uh,Terminator Salvation. Mega-producer Joel Silver took a crack at it in 2008, but after the Wachowski siblings’Speed Racertanked at the box office, he scrapped the idea. In 2011, Legendarynegotiatedfor the rights, and stunt guy Simon Cranecame on boardto direct in 2013. That didn’t work out, andFast & Furiousdirector Justin Linslid into the driver’s seatin 2016 before bailing out. Mattel got the rights back from Legendary and took them to WBlast year, and now a new version is in the works.
No director is attached yet, butRobbie Brenner, who produced films likeDallas Buyers Club,Escape Plan, andA Perfect Getawayand was recently hired by Mattel, is on board as a producer. Mattel is also developing aBarbie moviestarring Margot Robbie.
