Latest news with #Matchbox
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mattel And Illumination Join Hands To Produce Barbie Animated Movie For Theatres
This news came after director Greta Gerwig's 2023 Barbie movie, featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, turned out to be a massive hit. Two years after Margot Robbie's widely acclaimed live-action Barbie became a global hit at the box office, Mattel is reportedly in talks to produce the first-ever animated movie for the big screen. Previously, the iconic doll has appeared in 52 animated movies and streaming TV films since 2001 but has not yet been released to the big screen. As per Deadline, Mattel is joining hands with Illumination, the studio behind the Minions franchise, to produce the first-ever Barbie animated film for the theatres. However, representatives of both Mattel and Illumination have refrained from commenting on this report and have made no official statement so far. Deadline reports that the film will be released by Universal Pictures, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Illumination. No further details regarding the plot or creatives attached to the film have been revealed so far. This news came after director Greta Gerwig's 2023 Barbie movie, featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, turned out to be a massive hit. The film made historic waves at the box office, grossing over $1.3 billion at the global box office and becoming the highest-earning theatrical release of Warner Bros. Greta Gerwig's Barbie has also become the highest-grossing film helmed by a woman and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Since 1959, Barbie has held down its position as the global category leader in dolls, with more than 100 dolls sold every minute, as per Deadline. Barbie's large scale influenced Mattel to produce more and more Barbie movies. Mattel Studios has reportedly two films slated for release in 2026 – a live-action Masters of the Universe, set to be released by Amazon MGM Studios, and a live-action Matchbox produced alongside Skydance and Apple. Chris Meledandri's Illumination has two films up for release through Universal Pictures. A sequel to the blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is scheduled to release on April 3, 2026, and Nintendo and Minions 3, which is set to hit the theatres on July 1, 2026. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Barbie' animated film in development at Illumination and Mattel Studios following live-action success
An animated Barbie feature is officially in the works from Illumination and Mattel Studios, marking the first time the doll will headline a theatrically released animated film. The project follows the massive global success of 2023's live-action Barbie, which grossed over $1.44 billion and earned eight Academy Award nominations and one win. While the new film has not yet been dated and plot details remain undisclosed, sources confirm that Universal Pictures will handle its release. Greta Gerwig's Barbie, released by Warner Bros., became a global cultural event and remains the highest-grossing film in the studio's history, as well as the most successful film ever directed by a woman. This move comes amid broader growth at Mattel Studios, which recently unified its television and film divisions. Alongside Barbie, the studio is developing multiple toy-based adaptations, including Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, and others such as UNO, Polly Pocket, and American Girl. Illumination, the studio behind hits like Minions and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, has a proven record of box office performance and will next release sequels to both franchises in 2026.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Randeep Hooda praises co-star John Cena's performance
Actor Randeep Hooda , who will soon be seen sharing screen space with John Cena in the upcoming action film Matchbox , took to social media to praise his co-star's performance in the recently released film Heads of State . The action-comedy, also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Idris Elba , has been generating buzz for its high-octane entertainment and star-studded cast. Randeep, who watched the film recently, posted his admiration for the team on Instagram, calling the experience a 'blast.' He wrote, 'Just watched Heads of State — what a blast! Huge shoutout to my co-star and a gem 💎 @JohnCena, you were an absolute riot — loved every minute. @priyankachopra, you lit up the screen and were the real action star of the action comedy. @idriselba, sublime as ever… cheers to the whole team for a super fun film!' Hooda and Cena recently wrapped shooting Matchbox in Budapest, helmed by Extraction director Sam Hargrave . With Matchbox , audiences can look forward to an electrifying collaboration between Hooda and Cena in what promises to be a gripping action entertainer. The film is expected to blend slick action sequences with intense performances, showcasing the global reach of both actors in the international action genre. Ask ChatGPT
News18
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Randeep Hooda Purchases Rs 5.63 Crore Luxury Apartment In Versova, Mumbai
Last Updated: Randeep Hooda buys ₹5.63 crore apartment in Mumbai's Versova, joining Bollywood stars investing in Andheri West's luxury real estate market. Randeep Hooda has just made a big move—literally. The Bollywood star has become the latest celebrity to snap up prime real estate in Mumbai's ever-buzzing Andheri West. According to official registration documents sourced by Square Yards from the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) portal, the Sarbjit actor purchased a luxury apartment in the sought-after Versova locality for a whopping ₹5.63 crore. The transaction was sealed and registered in June 2025. Housed in Bianca CHS Ltd., the plush property spans an impressive 142.19 square metres (about 1,530 sq ft) of built-up area. The deal also included a substantial stamp duty of ₹33.78 lakh, along with registration charges amounting to ₹30,000. With this acquisition, Randeep joins a growing circle of Bollywood personalities staking their claim in the upscale Versova-Andheri West stretch—stars like Jaideep Ahlawat, Kartik Aaryan, Gauahar Khan, Ronit Bose Roy, and Gurmeet Choudhary, to name a few. Andheri West, once a laid-back suburb, has now transformed into a real estate goldmine—strategically perched between commercial and entertainment hubs. Its excellent connectivity via Western Express Highway, Link Road, SV Road, and the bustling Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro line makes it a top choice for celebrities and professionals alike. Today, it boasts a vibrant blend of luxury residences, creative studios, co-working spaces, shopping arcades, and gourmet hotspots. On the professional front, Randeep was last seen locking horns with Sunny Deol in Jaat, where he portrayed the formidable antagonist Ranatunga. If reports are to be believed, the actor commanded close to ₹6 crore for his powerful performance. Up next, Hooda is set to make waves internationally. He will appear alongside Hollywood heavyweights John Cena, Jessica Biel, and Sam Richardson in Matchbox—an action-adventure comedy slated to hit theatres in 2026. From the big screen to big investments, it's safe to say Randeep Hooda is playing his cards right. First Published: June 27, 2025, 16:32 IST
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mattel and OpenAI have partnered up – here's why parents should be concerned about AI in toys
Mattel may seem like an unchanging, old-school brand. Most of us are familiar with it – be it through Barbie, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends, Uno, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, MEGA or Polly Pocket. But toys are changing. In a world where children grow up with algorithm-curated content and voice assistants, toy manufacturers are looking to AI for new opportunities. Mattel has now partnered with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to bring generative AI into some of its products. As OpenAI's services are not designed for children under 13, in principle Mattel will focus on products for families and older children. But this still raises urgent questions about what kind of relationships children will form with toys that can talk back, listen and even claim to 'understand' them. Are we doing right by kids, and do we need to think twice before bringing these toys home? Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. For as long as there have been toys, children have projected feelings and imagined lives onto them. A doll could be a confidante, a patient or a friend. But over recent decades, toys have become more responsive. In 1960, Mattel released Chatty Cathy, which chirped 'I love you' and 'Let's play school'. By the mid-1980s, Teddy Ruxpin had introduced animatronic storytelling. Then came Furby and Tamagotchi in the 1990s, creatures requiring care and attention, mimicking emotional needs. The 2015 release of 'Hello Barbie', which used cloud-based AI to listen to and respond to children's conversations, signalled another important, albeit short-lived, change. Barbie now remembered what children told her, sending data back to Mattel's servers. Security researchers soon showed that the dolls could be hacked, exposing home networks and personal recordings. Putting generative AI in the mix is a new development. Unlike earlier talking toys, such systems will engage in free-flowing conversation. They may simulate care, express emotion, remember preferences and give seemingly thoughtful advice. The result will be toy that don't just entertain, but interact on a psychological level. Of course, they won't really understand or care, but they may appear to. Details from Mattel or Open AI are scarce. One would hope that safety features will be built in, including limitations on topics and pre-scripted responses for sensitive themes and when conversations go off course. But even this won't be foolproof. AI systems can be 'jailbroken' or tricked into bypassing restrictions through roleplay or hypothetical scenarios. Risks can only be minimised, not eradicated. The risks are multiple. Let's start with privacy. Children can't be expected to understand how their data is processed. Parents often don't either – and that includes me. Online consent systems nudge us all to click 'accept all', often without fully grasping what's being shared. Then there's psychological intimacy. These toys are designed to mimic human empathy. If a child comes home sad and tells their doll about it, the AI might console them. The doll could then adapt future conversations accordingly. But it doesn't actually care. It's pretending to, and that illusion can be powerful. This creates potential for one-sided emotional bonds, with children forming attachments to systems that cannot reciprocate. As AI systems learn about a child's moods, preferences and vulnerabilities, they may also build data profiles to follow children into adulthood. These aren't just toys, they're psychological actors. A UK national survey I conducted with colleagues in 2021 about possibilities of AI in toys that profile child emotion found that 80% of parents were concerned about who would have access to their child's data. Other privacy questions that need answering are less obvious, but arguably more important. When asked whether toy companies should be obliged to flag possible signs of abuse or distress to authorities, 54% of UK citizens agreed – suggesting the need for a social conversation with no easy answer. While vulnerable children should be protected, state surveillance into the family domain has little appeal. Yet despite concerns, people also see benefits. Our 2021 survey found that many parents want their children to understand emerging technologies. This leads to a mixed response of curiosity and concern. Parents we surveyed also supported having clear consent notices, printed on packaging, as the most important safeguard. My more recent 2025 research with Vian Bakir on online AI companions and children found stronger concerns. Some 75% of respondents were concerned about children becoming emotionally attached to AI. About 57% of people thought that it is inappropriate for children to confide in AI companions about their thoughts, feelings or personal issues (17% thought it is appropriate, and 27% were neutral). Our respondents were also concerned about the impact on child development, seeing scope for harm. In other research, we have argued that current AI companions are fundamentally flawed. We provide seven suggestions to redesign them, involving remedies for over-attachment and dependency, removal of metrics based on extending engagement though personal information disclosure and promotion of AI literacy among children and parents (which represents a huge marketing opportunity by positively leading social conversation). It's hard to know how successful the new venture will be. It might be that that Empathic Barbie goes the way of Hello Barbie, to toy history. If it does not, the key question for parents is this: whose interests is this toy really serving, your child's or that of a business model? Toy companies are moving ahead with empathic AI products, but the UK, like many countries, doesn't yet have a specific AI law. The new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 updates the UK's data protection and privacy and electronic communications regulations, recognising need for strong protections for children. The EU's AI Act also makes important provisions. International governance efforts are vital. One example is IEEE P7014.1, a forthcoming global standard on the ethical design of AI systems that emulate empathy (I chair the working group producing the standard). The organisation behind the standard, the IEEE, ultimately identifies potential harms and offers practical guidance on what responsible use looks like. So while laws should set limits, detailed standards can help define good practice. The Conversation approached Mattel about the issues raised in this article and it declined to comment publicly. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Andrew McStay is funded by EPSRC Responsible AI UK (EP/Y009800/1) and is affiliated with IEEE.
