Wicked franchise director Jon M. Chu has signed on to helm Hot Wheels for Mattel and Warner Bros based on the popular toy car line.
Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier will co-write the screenplay after collaborating on They Cloned Tyrone (Taylor’s credits include Creed II), while J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Chu’s Electric Somewhere are producing.
Mattel Studios president and chief content officer Robbie Brenner is producing alongside Chu, Abrams, and Michael Bostick. Arturo Thur de Koós is overseeing for Mattel Studios, with Sheila Walcott and Zach Hamby leading for Warner Bros. Pictures, Jon Cohen for Bad Robot, and Jane Lee overseeing for Electric Somewhere.
The project marks the first time Bad Robot and Mattel have worked together, while the toy company and Warner Bros famously made Barbie, which was directed by Greta Gerwig and produced by and starred Margot Robbie and earned more than $1.4bn worldwide in 2023.
Warner Bros and Bad Robot have been creative partners for nearly 20 years and the latter is currently producing an animated feature-length adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, which Chu is also set to direct, among other projects for Warner Bros.
Chu, whose directing credits include Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, said: “Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed – it’s about imagination, connection, and the thrill of play. Bringing that spirit to the big screen is an incredible opportunity.”
Wicked: For Good directed by Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will open in November through Universal. Wicked grossed $756m worldwide last year and earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning two for production design and costume design.