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{{Infobox company
#REDIRECT [[Mattel#Mattel Films]]
| name = Mattel Films
| former_name = Playground Productions (2013–2016)
| logo =
| image_caption = Division logo
| type = Division
| industry = [[Entertainment]]
| founded = {{start date and age|2018|9}}
| fate =
| hq_location_city = [[El Segundo, California]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = [[Robbie Brenner]] (executive producer)
| num_employees = 5 (2019)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Magic 8 Ball, the Movie? Mattel's New Film Chief on Adapting Toys and Why Barbie Was "Ahead of Her Time" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mattels-new-film-chief-why-barbie-was-her-time-1190658 |accessdate=March 11, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 28, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
| owner = [[Mattel]], Inc.
| parent =
| website =
}}


'''Mattel Films''' (formerly '''Mattel Playground Productions (PGP)''', or commonly '''Playground Productions''') is a division of Mattel. As Playground Productions, it was first part of Mattel Global Brands.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldman Getzler |first1=Wendy |title=With profits up, Mattel launches in-house studio Playground Productions |url=http://kidscreen.com/2013/10/16/with-profits-up-mattel-launches-in-house-studio-playground-productions/ |accessdate=September 7, 2018 |work=Kidscreen |date=October 16, 2013}}</ref> It was later transferred to Mattel Creations, itself a division of Mattel, Inc.<ref name=dl/> on September 6, 2018, the division was reformed as Mattel Films.<ref name=lat0/>
{{R to section}}

==History==
===Playground Productions===
[[File:Mattel Playground Productions.svg|thumb|left]]

In October 2013, Mattel Playground Productions was launched by Mattel as its new in-house film studio to handle multi-media production, films, TV shows, web series, live events and games, for Mattel's brands. The intent was to centralize Mattel's disjointed content productions. Its first animated project is “Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome”. Mattel has under development a live-action Hot Wheels movie at [[Legendary Entertainment]] and [[Universal Studios]], a Masters of the Universe and a Barbie film at [[Columbia Pictures]], a Monster High feature with Universal and a [[Max Steel (film)|Max Steel]] film with [[Dolphin Entertainment]]. Playground Productions was planned to set up three-year storytelling plans that incorporate every part of the Mattel company from toy designers to consumer products and marketing.<ref name=vty>{{cite news|last=Graser|first=Marc|title=Mattel’s Bold Plan to Take Control Back From Hollywood|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattels-bold-plan-to-take-control-back-from-hollywood-1200795906/|accessdate=May 7, 2014|newspaper=Variety|date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> David Voss was appointed as Senior Vice President of Playground Productions.<ref name=vty/><ref name="vty0">{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|title=Mattel to Create Original Entertainment Through Playground Productions Banner|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattel-to-create-original-entertainment-through-playground-productions-banner-exclusive-1200727243/|accessdate=June 6, 2016|work=Variety|date=October 15, 2013}}</ref>

With WWE in March 2014, Playground launched an online short form series, ''WWE Slam City'', to go along with the toy line.<ref name="stmd">{{cite news|last1=Goldman Getzler|first1=Wendy|title=Mattel and WWE producing 26-episode web series for kids|url=http://streamdaily.tv/2014/03/17/mattel-and-wwe-team-up-on-new-online-shorts-toy-line/|accessdate=December 16, 2016|work=StreamDaily|agency=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> The series was picked up by [[Nicktoons (TV channel)|Nicktoons]]’ NickSports programming block starting October 22, 2014.<ref name=ksn0>{{cite news|last1=Dickson|first1=Jeremy|title=Nickelodeon takes WWE Slam City from web to TV|url=http://kidscreen.com/2014/10/22/nickelodeon-takes-wwe-slam-city-from-web-to-tv/|accessdate=December 16, 2016|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=October 22, 2014}}</ref>

Voss left the division in January 2016 for subscription service, [[Loot Crate]].<ref name=ksn1>{{cite news|last1=Castleman|first1=Lana|title=Mattel centralizes content output in new division|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/03/31/mattel-centralizes-content-ouput-in-new-division/|accessdate=December 16, 2016|work=Kidscreen|date=March 31, 2016}}</ref> In March 2016, PGP was placed within Mattel Creations along with the other two Mattel content production units.<ref name=dl>{{cite news|last1=Tartaglione|first1=Nancy|title=Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant’s Theatrical, TV & Digital Content|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/mattel-creations-balsam-schwaber-keenan-new-division-barbie-1201729116|accessdate=June 6, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC|date=March 31, 2016}}</ref> After failure of the Max Steel movie in 2016, Playground Productions was absorbed into Mattel Creations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Luke Y. |title=Why Mattel's Latest Movie Studio Announcement Doesn't Impress |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/09/07/why-mattels-latest-movie-studio-announcement-doesnt-impress/ |accessdate=January 9, 2019 |work=Forbes |date=September 7, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
{{-}}

===Current formation===
On September 6, 2018, Mattel announced the launch of a film division, Mattel Films, that will make movies based on the company’s toy brands. Robbie Brenner was appointed to head the division as executive producer and will report directly to the CEO.<ref name=lat0>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mattel-film-division-20180906-story.html|title=Mattel creates new film division to turn toys into movies |last=Ng|first=David|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mattel-after-years-toying-with-big-screen-creates-film-division-1536271961|title=Mattel, After Years Toying With Big Screen, Creates Film Division|last=Ziobro|first=Paul|date=2018-09-06|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> The revived division's first two projects are expect to be Barbie and Masters of the Universe films.<ref name="bb">{{cite news |last1=Townsend |first1=Matthew |title=Mattel's New CEO Starts Movie Unit to Jump-Start Film Franchises |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/mattel-s-new-ceo-starts-movie-unit-to-jump-start-film-franchises |accessdate=September 7, 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> In early January 2019, Mattel closed the deal with Margot Robbie to star in the [[Barbie (film)|Barbie film]] and Warner and Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, to co-produce the film.<ref name=vty1>{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Margot Robbie’s ‘Barbie’ Film Moves Ahead as Warner Bros. Closes Deal With Mattel |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/warner-bros-closes-deal-with-matell-barbie-margot-robbie-1203102234/ |accessdate=January 9, 2019 |work=Variety |date=January 8, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Mattel Films and Sony revive Master of the Universe film development in January 2019 with many of the prior attempt's director and producers while bringing on board different writers, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Sony and Mattel Films Tap ‘Men in Black’ Writers on ‘Masters of the Universe’ Reboot |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/sony-men-in-black-international-writers-on-mattels-masters-of-the-universe-1203105707/ |accessdate=January 11, 2019 |work=Variety |date=January 11, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

===Production===
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! Title
! Year(s)
! Type
! Production Unit
! Production<br>partner(s)
! Distributor
! Notes
|-
| ''[[Team Hot Wheels]]''
| June 7, 2014
| Animated
| Playground Productions
| [[Mercury Filmworks]]<br>[[Titmouse, Inc.]]
| digital platforms
|
*22-minute origin story (spring)<ref name="vty0"/>
*11 two-minute shorts (summer)
*74-minute direct-to-video film (fall)
|-
| ''[[WWE Slam City]]''
| {{dts|2014|3|17}}
| Stop motion
| Playground Productions<ref name="stmd"/>
| [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios]]<ref name=ksn0/>
| digital platform<ref name="stmd"/><br>[[Nicktoons (TV channel)|Nicktoons]] (NickSports)<ref name=ksn0/>
| 26-episode two-minute shorts series<ref name="stmd"/>
|-
|rowspan=4| ''[[Ever After High]]''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rusak|first1=Gary|title=Mattel plays around with digital distribution strategies|url=http://streamdaily.tv/2014/04/03/at-six-month-old-playground-mattel-wants-all-in-on-digital-distribution/|accessdate=December 16, 2016|work=StreamDaily|agency=iKids|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=April 3, 2014}}</ref>
|rowspan=4| 2014
| ''[[Legacy Day]]'' animated special
|rowspan=4| Playground Productions
|
| [[Netflix]]
|
|-
|''[[True Hearts Day]]'' 22-minute webisode special
|
|Nickelodeon
|
|-
| ''[[Thronecoming]]'' TV special
|
|
| 44-minute
|-
| Fairy tale web series
|
| EverAfterHigh.com
| 22 two-minute webisodes
|-
| ''[[Max Steel (film)|Max Steel]]''
| {{dts|2016|8|26}}<ref name="Variety.com">{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/robert-de-niro-roberto-duran-movie-hands-of-stone-1201713247/ | title=Robert De Niro Boxing Movie ‘Hands of Stone’ Set for August Release | work=Variety.com | accessdate=April 2, 2016}}</ref>
| Live action film
| Playground Productions
| [[Dolphin Entertainment]]<br>[[Ingenious Media]]
| [[Open Road Films]]<ref name="vty0"/>
|
|-
| ''[[Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef]]''
| February 12, 2017
| CGI-animated film
| Playground Productions<br/>[[DHX Media]] Vancouver
|
| {{ubl|Cartoon Network (LatAm)}}
| 61 minutes, [[Monster High (film series)]] {{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
|-
|colspan=7|

====Upcoming====
<!--
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/jj-abrams-mattel-the-beastlies-bad-robot-leslie-levings-1202291448/|title=Mattel & J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Team On ‘The Beastlies’|author=Mike Fleming Jr|publisher=[[Deadline (magazine)|Deadline]]|date=February 16, 2018|accessdate=February 18, 2018}}</ref> -->
|-
|[[Barbie (film series)#Live-action film adaptation|''Barbie'']]
| {{TBD}}
| rowspan="9" | Cgi/Live-action film
| rowspan="9" | Mattel Films
|
*LuckyChap Entertainment

|[[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
|<ref name=vty1/>
|-
|''[[Masters of the Universe (film)#Remake|Masters of the Universe]]''
| {{TBD}}

|
*[[Columbia Pictures]]
*Escape Artists
|[[Sony Pictures Releasing]]
|
|-
| ''[[Hot Wheels#Live action film project|Hot Wheels]]''
| rowspan="7" |TBD
| Warner Bros. Pictures
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=‘Hot Wheels’ Live-Action Movie in the Works With Mattel, Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/hot-wheels-live-action-movie-mattel-warner-bros-1203123041/ |work=Variety |date=January 30, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[American Girl (film series)|American Girl]]''
|
*[[Erik Feig|PictureStart]]
*[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
| rowspan=2|[[United Artist #United Artists Releasing|United Artists Releasing]]
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |title=‘American Girl’ Live-Action Movie in the Works With Mattel and MGM |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/american-girl-live-action-movie-mattel-mgm-1203140491/ |accessdate=February 15, 2019 |work=Variety |date=February 15, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[View-Master|The View-Master Movie]]
| Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Mattel & MGM Partner For Movie Based On View-Master Classic Toy |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/mattel-mgm-view-master-movie-classic-toy-1202566147/ |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |work=Deadline |date=February 27, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Untitled
[[Magic 8-Ball|Magic 8 Ball]]<br />Film
| [[Blumhouse Productions]]
| [[Universal Pictures]]
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Magic 8 Ball Movie in Development at Blumhouse, Mattel |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/magic-8-ball-movie-blumhouse-mattel-1203232001/ |accessdate=June 5, 2019 |work=Variety |date=June 4, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Barney & Friends|Barney’s Wishes Adventure]]
|[[Daniel Kaluuya|59%]]
[[Valparaiso Pictures]] [[Hit Entertainment]]<br />
|
[[Universal Pictures]]
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Barney the Dinosaur Movie in the Works From Mattel Films and Daniel Kaluuya |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/barney-movie-daniel-kaluuya-mattel-films-1203374572/ |accessdate=October 21, 2019 |work=Variety |date=October 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|''Untitled [[Major Matt Mason]] film''
|colspan=2| [[Paramount Pictures]]
| <ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Donnelly|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/tom-hanks-akiva-goldsman-set-live-action-mattel-adaptation-major-matt-mason-at-paramount-exclusive-1203327436/|title=Tom Hanks, Akiva Goldsman Set Live Action Mattel Adaptation ‘Major Matt Mason’ at Paramount |date=September 7, 2019|website=Variety|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 23:09, 15 July 2020

Mattel Films
FormerlyPlayground Productions (2013–2016)
Company typeDivision
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedSeptember 2018; 6 years ago (2018-09)
Headquarters
El Segundo, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Robbie Brenner (executive producer)
OwnerMattel, Inc.
Number of employees
5 (2019)[1]

Mattel Films (formerly Mattel Playground Productions (PGP), or commonly Playground Productions) is a division of Mattel. As Playground Productions, it was first part of Mattel Global Brands.[2] It was later transferred to Mattel Creations, itself a division of Mattel, Inc.[3] on September 6, 2018, the division was reformed as Mattel Films.[4]

History

Playground Productions

In October 2013, Mattel Playground Productions was launched by Mattel as its new in-house film studio to handle multi-media production, films, TV shows, web series, live events and games, for Mattel's brands. The intent was to centralize Mattel's disjointed content productions. Its first animated project is “Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome”. Mattel has under development a live-action Hot Wheels movie at Legendary Entertainment and Universal Studios, a Masters of the Universe and a Barbie film at Columbia Pictures, a Monster High feature with Universal and a Max Steel film with Dolphin Entertainment. Playground Productions was planned to set up three-year storytelling plans that incorporate every part of the Mattel company from toy designers to consumer products and marketing.[5] David Voss was appointed as Senior Vice President of Playground Productions.[5][6]

With WWE in March 2014, Playground launched an online short form series, WWE Slam City, to go along with the toy line.[7] The series was picked up by Nicktoons’ NickSports programming block starting October 22, 2014.[8]

Voss left the division in January 2016 for subscription service, Loot Crate.[9] In March 2016, PGP was placed within Mattel Creations along with the other two Mattel content production units.[3] After failure of the Max Steel movie in 2016, Playground Productions was absorbed into Mattel Creations.[10]

Current formation

On September 6, 2018, Mattel announced the launch of a film division, Mattel Films, that will make movies based on the company’s toy brands. Robbie Brenner was appointed to head the division as executive producer and will report directly to the CEO.[4][11] The revived division's first two projects are expect to be Barbie and Masters of the Universe films.[12] In early January 2019, Mattel closed the deal with Margot Robbie to star in the Barbie film and Warner and Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, to co-produce the film.[13] Mattel Films and Sony revive Master of the Universe film development in January 2019 with many of the prior attempt's director and producers while bringing on board different writers, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.[14]

Production

Title Year(s) Type Production Unit Production
partner(s) 		Distributor Notes
Team Hot Wheels June 7, 2014 Animated Playground Productions Mercury Filmworks
Titmouse, Inc. 		digital platforms
  • 22-minute origin story (spring)[6]
  • 11 two-minute shorts (summer)
  • 74-minute direct-to-video film (fall)
WWE Slam City March 17, 2014 Stop motion Playground Productions[7] Stoopid Buddy Stoodios[8] digital platform[7]
Nicktoons (NickSports)[8] 		26-episode two-minute shorts series[7]
Ever After High[15] 2014 Legacy Day animated special Playground Productions Netflix
True Hearts Day 22-minute webisode special Nickelodeon
Thronecoming TV special 44-minute
Fairy tale web series EverAfterHigh.com 22 two-minute webisodes
Max Steel August 26, 2016[16] Live action film Playground Productions Dolphin Entertainment
Ingenious Media 		Open Road Films[6]
Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef February 12, 2017 CGI-animated film Playground Productions
DHX Media Vancouver
  • Cartoon Network (LatAm)
 61 minutes, Monster High (film series) [citation needed]

Upcoming

Barbie [to be determined] Cgi/Live-action film Mattel Films
  • LuckyChap Entertainment
 Warner Bros. Pictures [13]
Masters of the Universe [to be determined] Sony Pictures Releasing
Hot Wheels TBD Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures [17]
American Girl United Artists Releasing [18]
The View-Master Movie Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [19]
Untitled

Magic 8 Ball
Film

Blumhouse Productions Universal Pictures [20]
Barney’s Wishes Adventure 59%

Valparaiso Pictures Hit Entertainment

Universal Pictures

[21]
Untitled Major Matt Mason film Paramount Pictures [22]

References

  1. ^ Kit, Borys (February 28, 2019). "Magic 8 Ball, the Movie? Mattel's New Film Chief on Adapting Toys and Why Barbie Was "Ahead of Her Time"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  2. ^ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (October 16, 2013). "With profits up, Mattel launches in-house studio Playground Productions". Kidscreen. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (March 31, 2016). "Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant's Theatrical, TV & Digital Content". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Ng, David. "Mattel creates new film division to turn toys into movies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Graser, Marc (November 5, 2013). "Mattel's Bold Plan to Take Control Back From Hollywood". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Graser, Marc (October 15, 2013). "Mattel to Create Original Entertainment Through Playground Productions Banner". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d Goldman Getzler, Wendy (17 March 2014). "Mattel and WWE producing 26-episode web series for kids". StreamDaily. Brunico Communications Ltd. Kidscreen. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Dickson, Jeremy (October 22, 2014). "Nickelodeon takes WWE Slam City from web to TV". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Castleman, Lana (March 31, 2016). "Mattel centralizes content output in new division". Kidscreen. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  10. ^ Thompson, Luke Y. (September 7, 2018). "Why Mattel's Latest Movie Studio Announcement Doesn't Impress". Forbes. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  11. ^ Ziobro, Paul (2018-09-06). "Mattel, After Years Toying With Big Screen, Creates Film Division". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  12. ^ Townsend, Matthew (September 6, 2018). "Mattel's New CEO Starts Movie Unit to Jump-Start Film Franchises". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (January 8, 2019). "Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Film Moves Ahead as Warner Bros. Closes Deal With Mattel". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 11, 2019). "Sony and Mattel Films Tap 'Men in Black' Writers on 'Masters of the Universe' Reboot". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  15. ^ Rusak, Gary (April 3, 2014). "Mattel plays around with digital distribution strategies". StreamDaily. Brunico Communications Ltd. iKids. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  16. ^ "Robert De Niro Boxing Movie 'Hands of Stone' Set for August Release". Variety.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 30, 2019). "'Hot Wheels' Live-Action Movie in the Works With Mattel, Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  18. ^ Kroll, Justin; Kroll, Justin (February 15, 2019). "'American Girl' Live-Action Movie in the Works With Mattel and MGM". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  19. ^ Evans, Greg (February 27, 2019). "Mattel & MGM Partner For Movie Based On View-Master Classic Toy". Deadline. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  20. ^ McNary, Dave (June 4, 2019). "Magic 8 Ball Movie in Development at Blumhouse, Mattel". Variety. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 18, 2019). "Barney the Dinosaur Movie in the Works From Mattel Films and Daniel Kaluuya". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  22. ^ Donnelly, Matt (September 7, 2019). "Tom Hanks, Akiva Goldsman Set Live Action Mattel Adaptation 'Major Matt Mason' at Paramount". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
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