Hindi film actor Randeep Hooda will be sharing screen space with Hollywood star John Cena in the upcoming action thriller Matchbox. Currently being shot in Budapest, the film marks Hooda’s second collaboration with Extraction director Sam Hargrave, following their successful 2020 Netflix hit.
The film will revolve around a group of childhood friends who reunite to prevent an impending global disaster and, in the process, rediscover the power of their long-lost friendship. Based on Mattel’s iconic die-cast Matchbox toy vehicles, the live-action film also stars Teyonah Parris, Jessica Biel, and Sam Richardson.
Matchbox draws inspiration from the popular toy line invented by automotive enthusiast Jack Odell in 1953. Legend has it that Odell’s daughter was allowed to take a toy to school only if it was small enough to fit inside a matchbox. When her classmates began requesting their own “matchbox cars,” the brand was born, creating a lasting legacy in the toy industry.
Randeep Hooda expressed his excitement about reuniting with Hargrave, noting, “We had a great time on our first collaboration with Extraction. Sam is a master of high-octane storytelling and action, and I’m thrilled to be joining the team in Budapest once again.”
Hargrave, who also helmed Extraction 2, is directing Matchbox based on a screenplay by David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper. Known for his action credentials, Hargrave’s stunt coordination work on Marvel blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War, and Thor: Ragnarok, as well as DC’s Suicide Squad, further adds excitement to the film’s action-packed premise.
Randeep Hooda, who directed and starred in the 2024 film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, is also busy with other high-profile projects. He is currently working on Jaat, directed by Gopichand Malineni and starring alongside veteran actor Sunny Deol, as well as Arjun Ustara, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.