Apple Original Films and Skydance Media are bringing the classic Mattel toy line to life with “Matchbox The Movie,” an action-packed, globetrotting adventure hitting San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H.
SDCC 2026: ‘Matchbox The Movie’ Heading to Hall H
The film follows a group of childhood friends whose lives are completely upended when their long-absent former leader, Sean (John Cena), returns to their small town. The twist? He’s an undercover CIA agent who accidentally drags the group into a high-stakes, international pursuit to save the world.
The star-studded ensemble cast includes:
- John Cena as Sean
- Jessica Biel
- Sam Richardson
- Teyonah Parris
- Arturo Castro
- Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Danai Gurira, and Golshifteh Farahani
The film is directed and executive produced by stunt-coordinator-turned-director Sam Hargrave (Extraction) and written by David Coggeshall. It is produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, alongside Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner and Ynon Kreiz.
SDCC Panel Details: Saturday, July 25, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM in Hall H.
Confirmed Panelists: John Cena, Jessica Biel, Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson, and Teyonah Parris.
Release Date: October 9, 2026 on Apple TV+
All the Apple TV Events at SDCC 2026
When: Saturday, July 25 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Apple TV is making its historic Hall H debut with a massive two-hour showcase featuring sneak peeks, cast members, and filmmakers from five of its biggest projects:
1. Matchbox The Movie (Premieres October 9)
- The Pitch: An action-packed, globetrotting adventure based on the Mattel toys. Undercover CIA agent Sean returns to his small town and accidentally drags his childhood friends into an international pursuit to save the world.
- Confirmed Panelists: John Cena, Jessica Biel, Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson, and Teyonah Parris.
2. Dark Matter (Season 2 premieres August 28)
- The Pitch: Season 2 picks up with the Dessen family trying to settle into a safe reality, only for new forces to threaten their stability as Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens.
- Confirmed Panelists: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Dayo Okeniyi, Blake Crouch (Creator/Author), Matt Tolmach, and Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry.
3. Mayday (Premieres September 4)
- The Pitch: A Cold War action-comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a stranded U.S. Navy pilot who forms an unlikely alliance with a gruff, ex-KGB agent played by Kenneth Branagh.
- Confirmed Panelists: Directors/Writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
4. Silo (Season 3 currently airing)
- The Pitch: Season 3 dives into an origin story set centuries earlier while continuing Juliette’s journey underground as she deals with memory loss following her “cleaning.”
- Confirmed Panelists: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Alexandria Riley, and Showrunner Graham Yost.
5. Widow’s Bay (Season 1 streaming now)
- The Pitch: Coming off 19 Emmy nominations, this horror-comedy follows a mayor trying to turn a cursed island into a tourist destination, only for old horror legends to come alive.
- Confirmed Panelists: To be announced.
Apple TV Exclusive Screenings & Fan Experiences
Dark Matter Season 2 Sneak Preview
- When: Friday, July 24 | 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Where: Room 6DE
- What: An exclusive fan screening of the Season 2 premiere episode, hosted alongside Den of Geek.
- Attending Guests: Joel Edgerton, Dayo Okeniyi, Blake Crouch, Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry, and Matt Tolmach.
The Silo Experience (Interactive Installation)
- When: Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26 | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Where: The Lot @ 1st & J (450 2nd Ave, San Diego)
- What: A multi-sensory, immersive walk-through installation that transports fans directly into the underground dystopian world of the series.
- Admission: Free and open to all SDCC badge holders and the general public.
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