Mattel Films
{{short description|Film division and subsidiary of Mattel}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Redirect|Playground Productions|text=Not to be confused with American video game publisher Playground Productions, the current publisher of the Backyard Sports series}}
{{original research|reason=The Filmography section may need to be checked for unsourced or untrue information and speculation.|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| former_name = Mattel Playground Productions (2013–2016)
| logo = Mattel (2019).svg
| logo_size = 150px
| type = Division
| industry = Film production
| predecessors = Radnitz-Mattel Productions
HIT Movies
| successor = Mattel Television (television production)
| founded = {{start date and age|2013|10|16}} (as Mattel Playground Productions)
{{start date and age|2018|09|06}} (as Mattel Films)
| defunct = {{end date and age|2016|10|20}} (as Mattel Playground Productions)
| fate = Absorbed into Mattel Creations (as Mattel Playground Productions)
| hq_location_city = El Segundo, California
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|Robbie Brenner (executive producer)|Ivan Sanchez (executive producer, creativity)|Kevin McKeon (vice president)}}
| num_employees =
| parent = Mattel
}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Goldman Getzler |first1=Wendy |title=With profits up, Mattel launches in-house studio Playground Productions |url=http://kidscreen.com/2013/10/16/with-profits-up-mattel-launches-in-house-studio-playground-productions/ |access-date=September 7, 2018 |work=Kidscreen |date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092751/http://kidscreen.com/2013/10/16/with-profits-up-mattel-launches-in-house-studio-playground-productions/ |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}
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 release of the live action film Max Steel. On September 6, 2018, the division was revived and reformed as Mattel Films.
History
A joint venture with Mattel and producer Robert B. Radnitz was launched in May 1970, which produced family films including Sounder, Where the Lilies Bloom,{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Valerie J. |date=June 10, 2010 |title=Robert B. Radnitz dies at 85; Hollywood producer of distinguished family films |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-robert-radnitz-20100610-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717231722/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-robert-radnitz-20100610-story.html |archive-date=July 17, 2020}} and A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich.{{cite web |title=A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56104-A-HERO-AINT-NOTHIN-BUT-A-SANDWICH?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog |publisher=AFI |access-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717230313/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56104-A-HERO-AINT-NOTHIN-BUT-A-SANDWICH?cxt=filmography |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}
In March 2009, HIT Entertainment, prior to being acquired by Mattel in 2012, launched its HIT Movies division in Los Angeles with Julia Pistor as division head, to create films based on the company's franchises.{{cite web|last=Afan|first=Emily Claire|date=4 March 2009|url=http://kidscreen.com/2009/03/04/hitmovies-20090304/|title=HIT goes to the movies with newly formed film division|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications|access-date=6 February 2024}} The division's first planned film adaptation was a live-action Thomas & Friends film, scheduled for late 2010.{{cite web|last=Hayes|first=Dade|date=4 March 2009|title=Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/hit-entertainment-gets-into-movie-biz-1118000782/|website=Variety|access-date=6 February 2024}} File:Mattel Playground Productions.svg
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 for its brands for global multi-platform distribution.{{cite news |last=Graser |first=Marc |date=November 5, 2013 |title=Mattel's Bold Plan to Take Control Back From Hollywood |newspaper=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattels-bold-plan-to-take-control-back-from-hollywood-1200795906/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508033409/http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattels-bold-plan-to-take-control-back-from-hollywood-1200795906/ |archive-date=May 8, 2014}}{{cite web|first=Wendy Goldman|last=Getzler|date=16 October 2013|url=https://kidscreen.com/2013/10/16/with-profits-up-mattel-launches-in-house-studio-playground-productions/|title=With profits up, Mattel launches in-house studio Playground Productions|access-date=1 September 2016}} 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. David Voss, a veteran in the toy and entertainment business, was appointed as the division's head and Senior Vice President.{{cite news |last1=Graser |first1=Marc |date=October 15, 2013 |title=Mattel to Create Original Entertainment Through Playground Productions Banner |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattel-to-create-original-entertainment-through-playground-productions-banner-exclusive-1200727243/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613071552/http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattel-to-create-original-entertainment-through-playground-productions-banner-exclusive-1200727243/ |archive-date=June 13, 2016}}
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.{{cite news|last1=Goldman Getzler|first1=Wendy|title=Mattel and WWE producing 26-episode web series for kids|url=http://streamdaily.tv/2014/03/17/mattel-and-wwe-team-up-on-new-online-shorts-toy-line/|access-date=December 16, 2016|work=StreamDaily|agency=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=17 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220163531/http://streamdaily.tv/2014/03/17/mattel-and-wwe-team-up-on-new-online-shorts-toy-line/|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}} The series was picked up by Nicktoons' NickSports programming block from October 22, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Dickson|first1=Jeremy|title=Nickelodeon takes WWE Slam City from web to TV|url=http://kidscreen.com/2014/10/22/nickelodeon-takes-wwe-slam-city-from-web-to-tv/|access-date=December 16, 2016|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=October 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220194254/http://kidscreen.com/2014/10/22/nickelodeon-takes-wwe-slam-city-from-web-to-tv/|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=live}}
After Voss left the division in January 2016 for subscription service, Loot Crate,{{cite news|last1=Castleman|first1=Lana|title=Mattel centralizes content output in new division|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/03/31/mattel-centralizes-content-ouput-in-new-division/|access-date=December 16, 2016|work=Kidscreen|date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220194241/http://kidscreen.com/2016/03/31/mattel-centralizes-content-ouput-in-new-division/|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Tartaglione|first1=Nancy|title=Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant's Theatrical, TV & Digital Content|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/mattel-creations-balsam-schwaber-keenan-new-division-barbie-1201729116|access-date=June 6, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC|date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605053450/http://deadline.com/2016/03/mattel-creations-balsam-schwaber-keenan-new-division-barbie-1201729116/|archive-date=June 5, 2016|url-status=live}} After the critical and commercial failure of the live action Max Steel film on October 14, 2016, Mattel Playground Productions was absorbed into Mattel Creations.{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Luke Y. |title=Why Mattel's Latest Movie Studio Announcement Doesn't Impress |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/09/07/why-mattels-latest-movie-studio-announcement-doesnt-impress/ |access-date=January 9, 2019 |work=Forbes |date=September 7, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110014109/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/09/07/why-mattels-latest-movie-studio-announcement-doesnt-impress/ |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}
=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.{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=September 6, 2018|title=Mattel takes a page from Hasbro's playbook, launches film division |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/06/mattel-takes-a-page-from-hasbros-playbook-launches-film-division.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=CNBC |language=en}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mattel-film-division-20180906-story.html|title=Mattel creates new film division to turn toys into movies|last=Ng|first=David|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907022414/http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mattel-film-division-20180906-story.html|archive-date=September 7, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mattel-after-years-toying-with-big-screen-creates-film-division-1536271961|title=Mattel, After Years Toying With Big Screen, Creates Film Division|last=Ziobro|first=Paul|date=2018-09-06|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907053906/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mattel-after-years-toying-with-big-screen-creates-film-division-1536271961|archive-date=2018-09-07|url-status=live}}
The division's first two projects were the Barbie and Masters of the Universe live-action films.{{cite news |last=Townsend |first=Matthew |title=Mattel's New CEO Starts Movie Unit to Jump-Start Film Franchises |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/mattel-s-new-ceo-starts-movie-unit-to-jump-start-film-franchises |access-date=7 September 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908054238/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/mattel-s-new-ceo-starts-movie-unit-to-jump-start-film-franchises |archive-date=8 September 2018 |url-status=live }} On January 7, 2019, it was announced that Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling would star in the Barbie film to be co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures and Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment.{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Film Moves Ahead as Warner Bros. Closes Deal With Mattel |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/warner-bros-closes-deal-with-matell-barbie-margot-robbie-1203102234/ |access-date=January 9, 2019 |work=Variety |date=8 January 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109011510/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/warner-bros-closes-deal-with-matell-barbie-margot-robbie-1203102234/ |archive-date=9 January 2019 |url-status=live }} Barbie was released in theaters worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 21, 2023, and to date has made over $1.4 billion at the global box office and became the #1 highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. Pictures' 100-year history.{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2023-08-28 |title='Barbie' Becomes Biggest Warner Bros. Movie Ever at Global Box Office, Beating Final 'Harry Potter' Pic |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbie-biggest-warner-bros-movie-globally-box-office-1235575786/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|date=February 19, 2019|title=El Segundo-based Mattel Announces "Hot Wheels" Movie|url=https://www.elsegundo.org/Home/Components/News/News/78/|website=El Segundo Information Service|access-date=January 31, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 30, 2019|title='Hot Wheels' Live-Action Movie in the Works With Mattel, Warner Bros. |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/hot-wheels-live-action-movie-mattel-warner-bros-1203123041/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210213226/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/hot-wheels-live-action-movie-mattel-warner-bros-1203123041/ |archive-date=February 10, 2020}} The company teamed up with Universal Pictures for the first time on July 16, 2020, on adaptation of Wishbone to film.{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |date=July 15, 2020 |title='Wishbone' Film Adaptation in the Works From Mattel and Universal With Peter Farrelly Producing |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/wishbone-movie-peter-farrelly-1234705491/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716203637/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/wishbone-movie-peter-farrelly-1234705491/ |archive-date=July 16, 2020}}
In October 2020, Mattel Films announced that a live-action animated Thomas & Friends film was in development, to be directed by Marc Forster and developed by his production company 2Dux2.
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.{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Loryn |date=20 April 2021 |title=Mattel Films to Develop Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots Live-Action Motion Picture with Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel's One Race Films |url=https://toy-wizards.com/2021/04/20/mattel-films-to-develop-rock-em-sock-em-robots-live-action-motion-picture-with-universal-pictures-and-vin-diesels-one-race-films/ |access-date=1 May 2021 |website=Toy-Wizards.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Elizabeth |date=20 April 2021 |title=Mattel hits the big screen with Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots |url=https://kidscreen.com/2021/04/20/mattel-hits-the-big-screen-with-rock-em-sock-em-robots/ |access-date=7 November 2021 |website=Kidscreen}}{{Cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title=Mattel Films to Develop Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots Live-Action Motion Picture with Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel's One Race Films |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mattel-films-develop-rock-em-170000097.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |website=Yahoo! Finance |language=en-US}}
On June 24, 2021, Mattel Films and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer agreed to work on a live-action film for Polly Pocket.{{Cite web |last=Hutchins |first=Robert |date=25 June 2021 |title=Mattel is developing a live action Polly Pocket movie with MGM |url=https://www.toynews-online.biz/2021/06/25/mattel-is-developing-a-live-action-polly-pocket-movie-with-mgm/ |access-date=2021-07-01 |website=ToyNews |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=2021-06-24 |title=Lena Dunham Tackling 'Polly Pocket' Movie Starring Lily Collins |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/polly-pocket-movie-lena-dunham-lily-collins-1234973248/ |access-date=2021-07-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite press release |last1=Kazakos |first1=Niki |last2=Karaca |first2=Kristine |date=16 December 2021 |title=Mattel Films to Develop Family Drama Christmas Balloon Live-Action Motion Picture |url=https://corporate.mattel.com/en-us/news/mattel-films-to-develop-family-drama-christmas-balloon-live-action-motion-picture |access-date=3 January 2022 |work=Mattel Films |publisher=Mattel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=16 December 2021 |title=Live-Action 'Christmas Balloon' Movie in the Works at Mattel Films |url=https://www.thewrap.com/live-action-christmas-balloon-movie-mattel-films/ |access-date=3 January 2022 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=16 December 2021 |title=Mattel Developing Holiday Feature 'Christmas Balloon' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mattel-developing-holiday-feature-christmas-balloon-1235063542/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite press release|title=Mattel Films to Develop Family Drama Christmas Balloon Live-Action Motion Picture|publisher=Mattel, Inc. |url=https://corporate.mattel.com/en-us/news/mattel-films-to-develop-family-drama-christmas-balloon-live-action-motion-picture |access-date=2022-03-10|language=en-US}}
In July 2022, Mattel Films and Skydance announced the development of a live-action movie based on the Matchbox die-cast toy vehicles.{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Wilson |date=2022-07-19 |title=Matchbox Cars Live-Action Movie in the Works from Mattel and Skydance |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/mattel-skydance-matchbox-1235319125/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-07-19 |title=Skydance & Mattel Revving Up Matchbox Cars Live-Action Movie |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/matchbox-car-movie-mattel-skydance-1235072270/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Filmography
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mattel}}
{{Film studios}}
Category:2013 establishments in California
Category:2016 disestablishments in California
Category:2018 establishments in California
Category:American companies established in 2013
Category:American companies established in 2018
Category:Re-established companies
Category:Companies based in El Segundo, California
Category:Mass media companies established in 2013
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2016
Category:Mass media companies established in 2018