Tom Hanks just finished one toy saga (probably), and he’s replacing it with another. Hanks will play iconic 60s Mattel toy Major Matt Mason in a live-action adaptation. The project is set up at Paramount, with Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay. He and Hanks are currently the only two names attached.
The Major Matt Mason action figure was an astronaut who lived and worked on the moon. The toy was also accompanied by alien and villain toy characters. That’s pretty much all you need to know right now, because there’s no other information regarding the film. But one can assume that Mattel and Paramount are probably plotting a Major Matt Mason Cinematic Universe as we speak (The MMMCU?)
Who knows if this live-action adaptation will lean towards serious or light hearted. They could go the G.I. Joe route, which turned the toy line into a hardened action franchise, or something with a lot more levity. It’s hard to tell when a toy line is being adapted for a major movie.
This is just the latest Mattel toy being adapted, of course. We’ve seen plenty of Transformers movies, and there’s a Barbie film starring Margot Robbie on the way. Anything with a built-in audience continues to get the greenlight.
Hanks will next be seen as Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, which just premiered at TIFF. The film goes wide on Friday, November 22.
#Peace.Love.MajorMattMason
