Mattel Films

Mattel Films is the film production division of Mattel originally formed on October 16, 2013, as Mattel Playground Productions as part of Mattel Global Brands, a unified media structural and strategy unit.[1]

Mattel Films
FormerlyMattel Playground Productions (2013–2016)
TypeFilm division
IndustryFilm production
PredecessorRadnitz-Mattel Productions
FoundedOctober 16, 2013 (2013-10-16)
Headquarters
El Segundo, California
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Robbie Brenner (Executive Producer)
  • Ivan Sanchez (Executive Producer, Creativity)
  • Kevin McKeon (Vice President)
ParentMattel

On March 31, 2016, Mattel placed the division within a newly created division at the time, Mattel Creations, absorbed its operations into it and, seven months later, made it defunct due to poor box office reception of the live-action film release of Max Steel.[2] On September 6, 2018, the division was revived and reformed as Mattel Films.[3]

History

A joint venture in 1970 with producer Robert B. Radnitz, which produced family films including Sounder, Where the Lilies Bloom,[4] and A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich.[5]

Former logo as Mattel Playground Productions

On October 26, 2013, Mattel launched Playground Productions (shortened as Mattel PGP or just PGP) as its in-house film studio to handle multimedia productions and foster creative storytelling for its brands for global multi-platform distribution.[6][7] Its first animated project was Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome!. Mattel had been developing a live-action Hot Wheels film at Legendary Entertainment and Universal Pictures, films featuring the Masters of the Universe and Barbie brands at Columbia Pictures, a Monster High film with Universal and a Max Steel film with Dolphin Entertainment. PGP was planned to set up three-year storytelling plans that incorporate every part of the company's core operations, from toy designers to consumer products and marketing.[6] David Voss, an acclaimed 20-year veteran in the toy and entertainment business, was appointed as the division's head and Senior Vice President.[6][8]

With WWE on March 17, 2014, Mattel PGP launched an online short form series, WWE Slam City, to go along with its dedicated toy line.[9] The series was picked up by Nicktoons' NickSports programming block from October 22, 2014.[10]

After Voss left the division in January 2016 for subscription service, Loot Crate,[11] Mattel placed PGP within Mattel Creations upon its formation along with its other two content production units: HIT Entertainment and the content creation team of American Girl at Middleton, Wisconsin.[12] After the critical and commercial failure of the live-action Max Steel film on October 20, 2016, Mattel Playground Productions was absorbed into Mattel Creations.[2]

Reformation as Mattel Films

On September 6, 2018, Mattel announced the launch of a film division, Mattel Films, that will make films based on the company's toy brands.[13] Outside Mattel, the division is widely recognized as the revival and replacement of Mattel PGP. Mattel Films with Academy Award-nominated film producer Robbie Brenner was appointed to head the division as executive producer and will report directly to Mattel's CEO, Ynon Kreiz.[3][14]

The division's first two projects will be the Barbie and Masters of the Universe live-action films.[15] On January 7, 2019, it was announced that Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were going to star in the Barbie film to be co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures and Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment.[16] Barbie released in theaters worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 21st, 2023, and to date has made over $1.1 billion at the global box office and became the #1 highest-grossing movie in Warner Bros. Pictures' 100-year history.[17]

With the Hot Wheels film rights option with Legendary Entertainment expired and reverted to Mattel, its film division shopped the property to Warner Bros. for a partnership on a film for the first time on January 29, 2019.[18][19] The company teamed up with Universal Pictures for the first time on July 16, 2020, on adaptation of Wishbone to film.[20]

On April 19, 2021, Mattel Films teamed up with Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel's One Race Films for a live-action film adaptation of the 1966-launched toy, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, starring Vin Diesel, a Barney film with Daniel Kaluuya, a Polly Pocket film with Lena Dunham and Lily Collins.[21][22][23]

On June 24, 2021, Mattel Films and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer agreed to work on a live-action film for Polly Pocket.[24][25]

On December 16, 2021, Mattel Films announced its first project based on outside intellectual property: Christmas Balloon, which is written by Gabriela Revilla Lugo. The film is intended to be based on the true story of a young girl who tried to send her Christmas message to Santa via a balloon.[26][27][28][29]

In July 2022, Mattel Films and Skydance announced the development of a live-action movie based on the Matchbox die-cast toy vehicles.[30][31]

Filmography
Mattel Playground Productions
Title Release date(s) Type Production
partner(s)		 Distributor Notes
Monster High October 20, 2013 – April 3, 2016 2D-animated shorts and web series Nerd Corps Entertainment YouTube
Monster High 2013–2016 CGI-animated films DHX Media Vancouver
Nerd Corps Entertainment		 Television:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video release)		 61–75 minutes
Barbie and the Secret Door October 16, 2014 CGI-animated film Rainmaker Entertainment Television:
  • Cartoon Network (Latin America)
  • Nickelodeon (U.S.; international)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video release)[32]
Team Hot Wheels June 7, 2014 Animated Mercury Filmworks
Titmouse, Inc.		 Digital platforms
YouTube
  • 22-minute origin story (Spring)[8]
  • 11 2-minute shorts (Summer)
  • 74-minute direct-to-video film (Autumn/Fall)
WWE Slam City March 17, 2014 Stop motion Stoopid Buddy Stoodios[10] Digital platforms[9]
Nicktoons[10]		 26-episode 2-minute shorts series[9]
Ever After High[33] May 30, 2013 – June 20, 2016 "Legacy Day" 15-minute special Guru Studio Netflix Fairy tale web series
"True Hearts Day" 22-minute webisode special
  • Nickelodeon (U.S.; international)
  • YouTube
  • EverAfterHigh.com
"Thronecoming" 44-minute television special
66 3-minute webisodes
Barbie in Princess Power March 3, 2015[34] CGI-animated film Rainmaker Entertainment Nickelodeon (U.S. broadcast)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video release)[35][36][37][38]
Barbie in Rock 'N Royals August 13, 2015[39]
Barbie & Her Sisters in The Great Puppy Adventure October 8, 2015[40]
Barbie: Spy Squad January 15, 2016[41]
Max Steel October 26, 2016[42] Live-action film Dolphin Films
Ingenious Media		 Open Road Films[8] Final production before the absorption of Mattel PGP into Mattel Creations.
As Mattel Films
Barbie July 21, 2023 Live-action film Heyday Films
LuckyChap Entertainment
NB/GG Pictures		 Warner Bros. Pictures First movie from the division to receive a PG-13 rating.
Untitled Barney film TBA 59% Productions
Valparaiso Pictures[43]		 TBA
Hot Wheels TBA Bad Robot Productions[44] Warner Bros. Pictures[19]
American Girl TBA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[45] TBA
Christmas Balloon TBA Vital Pictures[46] TBA
Magic 8 Ball[47][48] TBA TBA TBA
Major Matt Mason TBA Playtone
Weed Road Pictures		 Paramount Pictures[49]
Matchbox TBA Skydance Media[51] TBA
Polly Pocket TBA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Good Thing Going[52]		 TBA
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots TBA One Race Films Universal Pictures[53]
Thomas & Friends: The Movie TBA 2Dux2[54] TBA
Uno TBA Quality Films[55] TBA
View-Master TBA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[56] TBA
Wishbone TBA TBA Universal Pictures[57]

References
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