Move Over Barbie, Polly Pocket & These Other Toys are Getting Films too
Mattel is hoping to cash in on more films based on its toys after the huge success of the Barbie film. A Polly Pocket film starring Lily Collins (yes, Phil Collins‘ daughter!) is currently in the works with a script written by Girls star Lena Dunham. Robbie Brenner, the head of Mattel Films, teased about the live-action film, “Lena is so collaborative and rolls up her sleeves and really likes to roll around in notes and listen. She’s incredible. Lily is so smart and so specific and so productorial. It’s just been an incredible collaboration, so we are thrilled about it.”
Polly Pocket
Amazon
Collins and Dunham have both expressed their excitement about the project, noting that they both loved playing with Polly Pockets growing up and the toys helped develop their creativity. The movie will reportedly be about a young girl and Polly, a pocket-sized woman, forming a friendship. Polly Pockets and Barbie aren’t the only two toys getting a movie makeover. Mattel has announced that many films are in the works. Let’s go over some of them and daydream about the others we hope materialize soon!
Barney
Wikimedia Commons
A Barney film is in the works with producer Daniel Kaluuya but not in the way you might expect. The live-action film is reportedly inspired by Being John Malkovich and it will feature more adult themes. Some speculate that it might be a scary movie, what with Kaluuya previously working on films such as Get Out and Nope, but Mattel says that it may not be darker but “more unique.” Can’t wait to see the trailer and learn more about this one.
Hot Wheels
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With the continued hype around Hot Wheels, especially with the current reality show Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, a movie is sure to please especially since it is being produced by JJ Abrams. Brenner said the film will have “real characters that you can relate to, that are three-dimensional, that have emotional journeys. Look at any J.J. Abrams movie. All of his movies have an incredible story and incredible characters. That was something that was important to him — to make a movie that’s not just going to be fun and exciting, but that has real emotion and real stakes to it.”
Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball
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For action lovers, not only is Hot Wheels coming to the big screen but Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, starring Vin Diesel. Not much is known about the film so far, except that Diesel will star and they are still working on the script. Another film is one centered around a Magic 8 Ball and Brenner teased that it will most likely be a PG-13 thriller. It seems that all of these films are banking on the nostalgia of Millenials and beyond.
American Girl Doll and Beyond
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For those who played with Barbie and Polly Pocket, American Girl dolls are also getting their own feature film adaptations too. The plot is under wraps but it is said to be a family comedy, perhaps aiming to bridge the gap between parents who played with American Girl dolls in the past and their own kids who inherited the dolls. Lastly, Mattel has announced movies around the superhero toy He-Man, the game UNO, Matchbox cars, and the View-Master toy.
Wikimedia Commons
There are so many movies in the works featuring your favorite childhood toys! Which others would you like to see? Perhaps Strawberry Shortcake or Rainbow Brite would be fun adaptations? We know that Jem got her own movie but it would be fun to see a new animated classic of the story too. I’m personally excited for the Polly Pocket and American Girl doll films as those were two of my favorite toys growing up!
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