Apple Shares First Look at 'Matchbox The Movie' Starring John Cena, Sets Premiere Date

Apple has unveiled the first images and a release date for "Matchbox The Movie," a new action-adventure film directed by Sam Hargrave. Starring John Cena and Jessica Biel, the movie is set to premiere globally on Apple TV on Friday, October 9, 2026.



Inspired by the classic Mattel toy line, the film follows a group of childhood friends who find their lives turned upside down when their former leader returns to town. Cena plays Sean, an undercover CIA agent whose arrival drags the group into a frantic international mission to save the world.


The ensemble cast features Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. It also includes Corey Stoll, who was recently announced as part of the cast for the upcoming Apple TV thriller Imperfect Women. Additional cast members include Bill Camp, Danai Gurira, and Golshifteh Farahani.

The project hails from Skydance Media and Mattel Films. It is directed by Sam Hargrave with a script written by David Coggeshall. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger are producing for Skydance, alongside Robbie Brenner and Ynon Kreiz for Mattel Films.

This release adds to a crowded slate for the platform, which was rebranded to Apple TV late last year. It fits into the company's aggressive strategy to deliver new original content nearly every week throughout 2026.

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