LATEST NEWS

Tom Hanks Headed Back to Space as Major Matt Mason

by Alex Billington
March 25, 2009

Candy Land and Stretch Armstrong weren't the only movies Mattel had in the works. Universal is developing a live-action featured based on their action figure Major Matt Mason, which first appeared in the 1960s. Speed and Broken Arrow screenwriter Graham Yost has been hired to write this script. The most interesting bit of this news, however, is that Tom Hanks will produce and star in this adaptation. Hanks will play Major Matt Mason, the leader of a team of astronauts who worked on the moon and lived in a space station. Oddly enough, after we finally landed on the moon in 1969, Mattel eventually retired the toy line.

No word on what exactly is going on or what the plot will even be about, because I hope it's more than just a basic story involving Major Matt Mason living in a space station and working on the moon with his buddies. Aliens anyone? Whatever the case, I'm starting to get really annoyed at this deal Universal made with Mattel. It seems like every month they announce a new project based on one of their toys or board games. They already crossed the line with Stretch Armstrong, but now it's getting under my skin. If this was announced on its own, I'd probably like it more, but as part of the deal, I know it's just for money.

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web: