TheMatchboxmovie cast has added another face as a keyWalking Deadand Marvel Cinematic Universestar has been confirmed to join John Cena in the upcoming movie. The toyline was launched in the 1950s and allowed children to own replicas of various vehicles at a 1:64 scale that could be stored in the style of box that the range took its name from. Greenlit in the wake of Greta Gerwig’sBarbie’ssuccess in 2023,Matchboxis helmed byExtractiondirector Sam Hargrave.
With production underway in Budapest,Matchboxhas added another star to its line-up, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.Danai Gurira has been cast in an undisclosed role, joining a roster that also includesWerewolves Within’s Sam Richardson,The Marvels' Teyonah Parris andRoad House’s Arturo Castro. Gurira is known for her portrayals of Michonne inTheWalkingDeadand its spinoff,The Ones Who Live,and Okoye in the MCU, beginning with 2018’sBlack Panther.
What Gurira’s Casting Means For Matchbox
The Star And Director Worked Together On Key MCU Set Piece
Gurira may be the second MCU veteran to join the cast ofMatchbox, but her casting has also marked an MCU reunion that could hint towards the movie’s tone.Prior to helmingExtraction,Hargrave served as a stunt coordinator and second unit director onAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame,which saw Gurira’s Okoye take a stand against Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his invasion of Wakanda, partaking in the climactic battle of the 2019 movie.
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With the actor and director’s history, it is possible that the movie may fall back onto Hargrave’s action background to thrill audiences, as opposed to the surprising emotional depth thatBarbiefound in Mattel’s toyline. But Gurira could also provide some much-needed depth to the feature, as, alongside her characters' prowess in action, both Okoye and Michonne have rich arcs tackling themes such as loyalty and grief.
Our Thoughts On Gurira’s Matchbox Casting
Mattel’s Moviemaking Vision Is Still Hard To Pinpoint In Matchbox
It still isn’t clear what the story ofMatchboxwill hold for audiences, as opposed to the more story-heavyupcoming Mattel Films productionssuch asMasters of the Universe. While other adaptations in development, including Daniel Kaluuya’sBarney,have been given brief descriptions by executives that hint towards themhaving the same subversive and deeper storytellingBarbiehad,others seem harder to determine, and feel like they were announced to capitalize on the 2023 movie’s impact rather than having clear thoughts put behind them.
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However, with Gurira joining the production and her past with Hargrave, it is becoming clear thatMatchboxhas been envisioned as an action movie first and foremost, relying on her, Parris, and Cena’s experience in similar features. But, with Cena having had a small role inBarbie, it is possible he could weigh in on that experience and his surprising comedic prowess to add levity and thought to the feature.
