The first look at ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ presents John Cena as the best replacement for Vin Diesel and ‘Fast & Furious’

With the Fast & Furious saga officially locking in a release date for its final chapter, fans of high‑octane action and roaring engines are already wondering what could possibly fill that void.

What no one expected was that the next big contender would come from one of the franchise’s own stars—though, given how many actors have passed through Vin Diesel’s cinematic universe, maybe it shouldn’t be such a surprise.

Apple has now released the first images from Matchbox: The Movie, offering a glimpse at what could become the next major action franchise built around fast cars and big personalities.

John Cena leads the cast alongside Jessica Biel, Teyonah Parris, Sam Richardson, and Arturo Castro. Variety describes the film as a more family‑friendly, accessible take on Fast & Furious—fitting, considering it’s inspired by Mattel’s iconic Matchbox cars.

Mattel has been on a mission to bring its most beloved toys to the big screen. After the massive success of Barbie and this summer’s upcoming Masters of the Universe, the company is now steering its attention toward these miniature speed machines.

Expect a movie packed with velocity and explosive action, but also anchored by a story about friendship—plus the signature humor that’s followed Cena since his WWE days.

In Matchbox: The Movie, Cena plays a member of a childhood friend group that reunites when he returns home—though now he’s secretly working as a CIA operative. Whether he means to or not, he ends up pulling his old friends into a globe‑spanning espionage mission to save the world.

When does ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ premiere?

The film is slated to arrive in 2028, lining up almost perfectly with the grand finale of Fast & Furious. Although it’s produced by Apple, the movie will hit theaters first, aiming to replicate the massive box‑office success of F1: The Movie—a tall order, but not impossible.

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