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Universal to adapt Matt Mason astro toys into Tom Hanks film
Universal will develop Major Matt Mason, a live-action sci-fi feature film based on the vintage Mattel astronaut action figure line, Variety reported.
The movie will be developed as a star vehicle for Tom Hanks, and Graham Yost will write the script. Playtone partners Hanks and Gary Goetzman will produce.
The toy line originated in 1966; Mason led an astronaut team that worked on the moon and lived in a space station. The toy was a hit in the buildup to the first manned moon mission. Mattel retired the line in the 1970s.
When Mattel executives Tim Kilpin and Barry Waldo came to Playtone for a meeting, they brought an arsenal of the Matt Mason figures. Hanks came armed with his own.
By The Haggard at 3:19 AM ON 03/25/09
I have been waiting for this since 1969. Hanks is a good choice for his love of the space adventure of America's reach to the moon.
By johnnyapollo at 5:41 AM ON 03/25/09
All I can say is It's about time!
By LittleBigSteve at 5:44 AM ON 03/25/09
I am doing the happy dance now! For years, I've been hoping against hope that Mattel would get off their duffs and produce some new Major Matt Mason toys, or at least get out of the way and let someone else do it. I'd about given up.
But toys seem inevitable now, and the movie is one of those "pinch me, I'm dreaming things."
Of course, most toy movies suck, so that's a mixed bag.
But this is TOM HANKS, who is a certified space nut, who starred in "Apollo 13," who made the wonderful HBO "From Earth to the Moon" mini-series, and who played with Major Matt Mason toys with a child, and who even featured Matt Mason in his IMAX moon movie.
If there's a person on the planet who combines "gets it" with "can get it done," it's Tom Hanks. This is a perfect storm of goodness here.
By cruncherblok at 9:50 AM ON 03/25/09
LittleBigSteve you hit the nail on the head, Hanks is the perfect choice for this movie. I can't wait til this one comes out!!
WOOO-FREAKIN'-HOOO!!!
By Where's my Remote at 10:04 AM ON 03/25/09
I owned a Major Matt Mason. Sounds like Hanks and crew will do a good job with this project.
By shanksow at 11:28 AM ON 03/25/09
OMG! Really?! Ditto to what everybody else has written so far. Now I got to re-discover where I stored my last few MMM stuff and figures.
By IsoTek at 1:50 PM ON 03/25/09
WOW....Deja Vu..I just watched the movie "Dark Star" yesterday in what seems like years and it just so happens they used Major Matt Mason dolls for the astronaut shots during their time outside the space ship.
By Captain Jack Harkness at 3:48 PM ON 03/25/09
This is all happy goodness. Tom Hanks, a Matt Mason movie, which together has to mean a release of new toys. I'd like to get my movie ticket, a pre-order for the DVD, and a bag of toys on hold now please!
By ddrucker at 9:50 PM ON 03/25/09
This was my favourite toy as a kid. I loved the space station. Not crazy about the alien 'Callisto', who struck me as too weird.
By BookWyrm at 12:33 PM ON 03/26/09
I'll reserve judgement. Let's see Hollywood revive a REAL 'forgotte' toy....the MAC Men!
By Buzz Ryan at 6:32 AM ON 03/27/09
I LOVE THIS!
I played with MMM when I was a kid, I collect and refurbish thm now, and I am even making a Buzz Ryan sized Moonsuit in the garage!!!
Tom Hnaks brought his own!!! That is Awesome!!!
By TB3 at 10:10 AM ON 04/02/09
I just hope there's a cameo by Billy Blastoff.
By JBKENN at 1:34 PM ON 05/17/09
HOOORRRRAAYYYYYYY! I think it will be a blockbuster-sci-fi, star trek and gallictica all rolled into one...not MATTEL....get jump on this and make me my darn space station and figures again so I can give them to my boys!
By muadib at 3:16 PM ON 08/07/09
i had a bunch of m.m.m. stuff as a kid.hell, i still have an old helmet,part of the backpack and the base of the sled.memories!
By muadib at 3:18 PM ON 08/07/09
as far as the movie goes,just keep j.j.abrahms away from it .he will turn it into what he didto trek....drek!
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muadib:
as far as the movie goes,just keep j.j.abrahms away from it .he will turn it into what he didto trek....drek!...More »