Hot Wheels Movie Announced; J.J. Abrams Producing Live-Action Film

Hollywood is making a movie about Hot Wheels. Yes, the toy cars. All we know is producer J.J. Abrams is fronting the cash for a live-action Warner Brothers film featuring “some of the world’s hottest and sleekest cars, monster trucks and motorcycles.” No actors, no dates—not even a teaser photo—have been announced.

So here’s what we think about what cars and drivers should be in the movie. Given our name, we’d hope Mr. Abrams pays attention to our suggestions.

All the Most Valuable Hot Wheels Cars

Bruce Pascal owns $1.5 million worth of Hot Wheels cars and toys—some 3500 cars in total, give or take—which implored the real estate broker to contain them all in a separate 4000-square-foot home. We’ve spoken to him many times over the years since he’s the main authority on the insane sums Hot Wheels collectors are willing to pay for tiny cars.

That means the 1969 Beach Bomb (a Volkswagen bus with two surfboards sticking out the back) is a must. As of 2019, Pascal said the $175,000 toy was the most valuable Hot Wheels model. It was an unsold prototype just like the next two most valuable cars, the “Over Chrome” Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang from 1968. The 1969 Brown Custom Dodge Charger, 1971 Purple Oldsmobile 442, and 1969 Ed Shaver Blue AMC AMX should be part of this picture, too. Of course, we’d also love to see the 1970 Ferrari 312P (with the white interior, not black), 1977 White Z-Whiz (a Datsun 240Z), and the six-wheel Green Open Fire (a stretched AMC Gremlin) find their way into the film.

All the Winning Cars from the Hot Wheels Legends Tour

Hot Wheels awards real cars a special honor—the shrinking immortalization of becoming an actual Hot Wheels toy car—by way of its Legends Tour. This series of global car shows ultimately results in a winning full-size vehicle being recreated in 1:64 scale.

Last November, our own Elana Scherr served on the eight-judge panel, alongside the likes of Jay Leno and Henrik Fisker. So, let these winning cars into the film: the Volvo P1800 dragster, the slammed 1970 Pontiac Firebird, the chopped Nash Metropolitan, and the open-wheel, Toyota Supra-powered 2 Jet Z.

An Orange Loop de Loop

Every car-crazed child had the thick orange loop-de-loop set that pit a pair of Hot Wheels cars in a fierce, gravity-propelled competition. This is prime Hot Wheels culture: taking over a living room, scattering cars all over the floor, clamping the starting block onto shelves, and racing for hours. Hell, Jaguar made a real loop in 2015 and sent stunt driver Terry Grant through 6.5 g’s worth of force as he drove upside down in an F-Pace.

Build a real-life orange loop. No CGI.

Big Names and Not-So-Hot-Names

Patrick Dempsey, Idris Elba, Michelle Yeoh, Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton—they all either love cars, race cars, perform their own vehicular stunts, or do some combination of all three. Ask them if they’re busy. We don’t need Nicolas Cage, Shia LeBeouf, John Cena, or Vin Diesel in the main roles. Thank you for your support, but no. The Rock, however, is always acceptable.

Hopefully, Hollywood and Hot Wheels can attract more aspiring unknown actors and give them a shot at what could become a lucrative series.

Please Don’t Make It Fast, Furious, or Gone in a Minute

We also don’t need another plotline like that of the Fast and Furious franchise or Gone in 60 Seconds. Need some help with this Mr. Abrams? Well, we’ve got a few automotive writers in mind who might be able to pen a decent script for you.