Mattel: Last News

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Last July, the executives at Mattel were celebrating the year anniversary of their billion-dollar box office baby “Barbie” at the Hollywood Bowl. After shattering global attendance records with Greta Gerwig’s cinematic adventure — based on the company’s most iconic brand — the team partnered on “Barbie the Movie: In Concert,” a live-scored screening of the Oscar-nominated film at the hallowed Los Angeles venue. As the crowds awaited the start of the symphony, Josh Silverman, Mattel’s global head of consumer products and chief franchise officer, noticed more than one family playing a classic card game to pass the time before the amphitheater doors opened.

Mattel, the major toymaker known for brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, is laying off 120 workers.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Last month, Robbie Brenner and a team of Mattel executives made the trek to the Sundance Film Festival. For five days, they braved thin mountain air to get a sense of the emerging filmmakers who they could enlist to make movies and shows based on Mattel’s line of toys — a collection of childhood favorites that runs the gamut from Hot Wheels to Thomas the Tank Engine to He-Man.

Mattel, it’s swell. That decades-old advertising slogan succinctly captures the brand promise of the sui generis American business that marks its 80th anniversary this year. It’s a testament to the strength of the culture established by Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler that the company’s most iconic products have never been more of a force in pop culture.

Tim Chan If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The new live action remake of doesn’t hit theaters until March 21, but Disney is already rolling out new merch in support of the Rachel Zegler-driven project. Disney has teamed up with Mattel on two new “Disney Collector” edition dolls.

Polly Pocket form in this exclusive compact, released ahead of the 2025 Toy Fair taking place in New York next month. The limited-edition release is now available to pre-order on Amazon and Mattel website for $50. The compact, shaped like Michael’s “World’s Bests Boss” mug, is packed with six dolls (Michael, Pam, Dwight, Jim Kevin and Kelly), in addition to nine accessories you can place in six locations from the show.

Mattel, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced a global, multi-year licensing agreement utilizing DC’s entire library.

Ayo Edebiri is going to be the force behind an upcoming live action film version of Barney.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri is set to write the screenplay for the upcoming live-action “Barney” movie and is also in talks to star in the film. “Barney” will be co-developed and produced by A24 and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions in partnership with “Barney” IP owner Mattel Films. Kevin McKeon and Andrew Scannell are overseeing the project for Mattel Films.

Mattel‘s culture sweeping debut of Barbie in 1959, it took nearly 17 years for the brand to come out with a version of the collectible doll that represented more than one type of skin color. Barbie was a a firefighter, a teacher, an actor, a lifeguard, a doctor. But it wasn’t until 1976, when Kitty Black Perkins joined the brand as Chief Designer of Fashion Doll concepts, that Barbie was Black.

Danai Gurira is teaming up with John Cena for a new movie!

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood star Randeep Hooda is set to reunite with “Extraction” director Sam Hargrave for Apple Original Films’ upcoming action thriller “Matchbox,” marking their second collaboration following their 2020 Netflix hit. The live-action film, based on Mattel’s die-cast matchbox toy vehicle line, stars John Cena, Teyonah Parris, Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson. Production is currently underway in Budapest, where Hooda is joining the cast.

Tim Chan If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Barbie IP got a big boost in 2023 with the release of the Margot Robbie-starring “Barbie” movie, and the iconic doll only got more popular from there, with celebrity collaborations with everyone from Mariah Carey to Rita Moreno. Now, Mattel has unveiled its latest pop culture release — an official Lunar New Year Barbie doll that’s sure to be a hit with Barbie fans and collectors alike.

Aaliyah by launching a new Barbie doll in her memory.The new figure was launched yesterday (January 16) by Mattel Creations and arrived on what would have been the late singer’s 46th birthday.Modelled after the iconic R&B musician, the doll comes with a look inspired by the outfit in her 1996 music video for ‘One In A Million’. This includes a black leather crop top, matching trousers and gloves, as well as sunglasses and shoes.It also features the same black hair, which is styled with a side parting.

immortalized in Barbie form by doll maker Mattel.The collectible Barbie, which celebrates the artist’s enduring influence on music, fashion and pop culture, became available for pre-order Thursday on what would have been the late star’s 46th birthday.In a testament to her enduring legacy, the Aaliyah Barbie sold out online in just 30 minutes, according to The Detroit Free Press. Re-sellers have already listed the doll — which retails for $55 — for upwards of $100 on eBay.The Barbie will presumably be restocked on Mattel’s and Target’s websites (as well as in Target stores) by the time it officially goes on sale on Jan.

Trixie Mattel and longtime partner David Silver have split up.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment Writer By the power of Grayskull, Jared Leto will become a jacked-up, cranially exposed supervillain! The Oscar-winning star of “House of Gucci” and “Dallas Buyers Club” is joining Amazon MGM’s upcoming live-action film “Masters of the Universe” as Skeletor, the skull-faced archenemy of Eternia’s greatest warrior, He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine). Director Travis Knight (“Bumblebee”) has also cast at least some of Skeletor’s coterie of henchmen.

Angelique Jackson “The Marvels” and “They Cloned Tyrone” star Teyonah Parris is jumping into the world of Mattel’s matchbox cars for Apple Original Films’ upcoming movie, “Matchbox.” The live-action film, based on the die-cast toy vehicle line, stars John Cena and Parris joins an expanding cast that also includes Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson. “Extraction” filmmaker Sam Hargrave is set to direct based on a screenplay by David Coggeshall (“The Family Plan,” “Orphan: First Kill”) and Jonathan Tropper (upcoming “Your Friends and Neighbors,” “The Adam Project,” “Warrior,” “See”).

Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso) has landed a role alongside John Cena and Jessica Biel in Apple‘s live-action Matchbox film from Skydance and Mattel Films.

Katcy Stephan John Cena and Eric Andre are ready to bro out. Netflix is in early development on a comedy feature, “Little Brother,” with Cena and Andre set to star. The film follows a famous real estate agent whose carefully curated world is upended when his eccentric “little brother” unexpectedly reappears.

link to a pornographic website on packaging for dolls tied to the blockbuster movie “Wicked.”In a proposed class action filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Holly Ricketson said she bought a “Wicked” doll for her daughter, who then visited an adult entertainment website through the link provided by the toymaker.Ricketson said her daughter showed her hardcore photographs from the website and both were “horrified” by what they saw, suffering emotional distress.The plaintiff said she would not have bought the doll had she known of the mistake, and Mattel has not offered refunds despite recalling the dolls on Nov. 11.Mattel did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but has expressed regret for the error.The El Segundo, California-based toymaker had intended to link purchasers to the WickedMovie.com website, not to a similarly named website for people at least 18 years old.Mattel recommends the dolls for children aged 4 and up.Tuesday’s lawsuit seeks at least $5 million of damages for anyone in the United States who bought “Wicked” dolls whose packaging included the errant link.It accuses Mattel of negligence, selling products unfit for sale, and violating California consumer protection laws.Other products from Mattel include Barbie and Hot Wheels.“Wicked,” from Universal Pictures, stars Cynthia Arivo and Ariana Grande.It has grossed $263.2 million in the United States and $360.3 million worldwide since its Nov.