Movie fans have reacted to the news that JJ Abrams will make a live-action film about Hot Wheels cars.
Following the news that Mattel plans to make more toy-inspired movies after Barbiethat Star wars director revealed some brief details about his own contribution to the upcoming list of projects.
“For a long time we talked to Mattel about Hot Wheels and we couldn’t quite find the thing that clicked that made it worthy of what Hot Wheels — that title — deserved,” Abams said in a “short, uncomfortable video” , detailing the new franchise, according to The New Yorker.
“Then we came up with something … emotional and grounded and gritty.”
The film has reportedly been in development for 20 years before Dalton Leeb and Nicholas Jacobson-Larson were brought on board for the yet-to-be-written script.
Reaction online has ranged from excitement to confusion. “I’m excited about it. I used to collect the #HotWheels cars when I was a kid,” wrote one Twitter user. “I’m all for this. JJ Abrams is going to give us a great hot wheels movie,” added another.
However, some have argued that Hot Wheels “doesn’t need a movie”, while another questioned why this particular one had to be “gritty”, adding: “It’s HotWheels. Just put them on a track and go.”
“Hollywood is completely bereft of ideas,” another person wrote in response to the message.
You can read some more reactions on social media below.
JJ Abrams has his say #HotWheels the film will be “emotional and grounded and gritty.”
What if it also ends up being about family, and it turns out that Hot Wheels and Fast and Furious are from the same universe..? Honestly, I wanted to see it!— Jon Lee Brody (@JonLeeBrody) 4 July 2023
I’m 8 years old losing my mind at the prospect of finally getting the ‘grounder and gritty’ live-action Hot Wheels movie I’ve always dreamed of. https://t.co/XL94PBKRUS
— KAMIL (@kazhar87) 4 July 2023
I’m all for this. JJ Abrams is going to give us a great hot wheels movie
— Wheat 🌾 (@_Wheat___) 4 July 2023
@jjabrams what the hell is this?? It’s Hot Wheels. Just put them on a track and go. Dafuq must be gritty??
— BEASUS 🙏🏾 (@Fib_James) 4 July 2023
Mattel and Warner Bros. will print money with this “Hotwheels” live action movie and the upcoming “Barbie” live action movie. With JJ Abrams’ company on board, they are sure to have a good story. #mattel #hotwheels #bathrobot #WarnerBros https://t.co/pB4flGvyxE
— Thomas Rainwater (@Rain_H2O) 28 April 2022
People who get mad about all the planned Mattel movies forget that there’s also a writer’s strike (and possibly an actor’s strike soon too) so they’re actually going to be much, much worse than you think 👍 https://t.co/5eVaP8W7uD
— Andy (@ImACultHero) 4 July 2023
I don’t care how good or bad it is
this one thing has killed cinema forever https://t.co/qClkN0E7kH— AmethystDecoyZ (@blacktekii) 4 July 2023
Okay, this doesn’t need a movie. If it’s animated, then okay, I get it, but if it’s live action, I’m not interested. #HotWheels #Toy #JarJarAbrams #JJAbrams #Movie #Movie https://t.co/PGEMYgvAwZ
— Calumity (@TheCalumity) 4 July 2023
After all this time.. is this his comeback film? #HotWheels #jjabrams https://t.co/bQ4hdBQJPF pic.twitter.com/yBlKY1VZpm
— Edimar (@Edimarfilms) 4 July 2023
He has a really weird resume, StarWars, Portal, Hotwheels
— Charl 🦨🐾 (@Charlie_Eevee) 4 July 2023
#JJAbrams is developing one #HotWheels movie. I am excited about that. I used to collect #HotWheels cars when I was a kid
— DFastX (@d_speeder) 4 July 2023
Meanwhile, i Barbie news, the anticipated film received a 12A rating in the UK for “moderate suggestion, brief sexual harassment”.
Barbie is set for release on July 21st in the UK, with a running time of 114 minutes. It stars Margot Robbie with Ryan Gosling as Ken.
It was recently revealed that the film is banned in Vietnam as it includes the “nine dash map” showing islands in the South China Sea as controlled by Beijing.
Elsewhere, a production designer on the film revealed that filming led to a worldwide shortage of pink paint.