John Cena’s Matchbox Movie Adaptation Casts MCU & Walking Dead Star

The Matchbox movie cast has added another face as a key Walking Dead and Marvel Cinematic Universe star 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’s Barbie’s success in 2023, Matchbox is helmed by Extraction director Sam Hargrave.

With production underway in Budapest, Matchbox has added another star to its line-up, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Danai Gurira has been cast in an undisclosed role, joining a roster that also includes Werewolves Within‘s Sam Richardson, The Marvels‘ Teyonah Parris and Road House‘s Arturo Castro. Gurira is known for her portrayals of Michonne in The Walking Dead and its spinoff, The Ones Who Live, and Okoye in the MCU, beginning with 2018’s Black 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 of Matchbox, but her casting has also marked an MCU reunion that could hint towards the movie’s tone. Prior to helming Extraction, Hargrave served as a stunt coordinator and second unit director on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: 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.

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 that Barbie found 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 of Matchbox will hold for audiences, as opposed to the more story-heavy upcoming Mattel Films productions such as Masters of the Universe. While other adaptations in development, including Daniel Kaluuya’s Barney, have been given brief descriptions by executives that hint towards them having the same subversive and deeper storytelling Barbie had, 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.

However, with Gurira joining the production and her past with Hargrave, it is becoming clear that Matchbox has 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 in Barbie, it is possible he could weigh in on that experience and his surprising comedic prowess to add levity and thought to the feature.