Hasbro Action Man film development

In late July 2026, Hasbro and UK‑based Working Title announced development of a feature film based on the Action Man toy line, naming former Marvel executive Simon Hatt, writer Anthony Sellitti and producer Jeremy Latcham as the core creative team. The project was pitched as a British‑flavoured action‑comedy, with a pre‑visualised fight sequence used to convince both companies of its viability.

By early August, Hasbro moved the effort to the next stage, officially green‑lighting a live‑action Action Man movie as part of an expanded film slate. The screenplay was confirmed to be co‑written by Hatt and Sellitti, and the partnership with Working Title was reaffirmed.

The green‑light announcement was framed alongside reporting that Warner Bros. Discovery’s planned sequel to the 2023 "Barbie" blockbuster had stalled. Negotiations with lead talent—Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and director Greta Gerwig—had broken down over salary demands, with Gosling reportedly seeking a $20 million fee and profit‑participation terms. With the studio’s rights set to expire in December, the dispute highlights the broader challenges Hasbro faces in translating its toy brands to the big screen.

In early August 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that CEO David Zaslav had rejected the compensation packages demanded by the Barbie sequel’s stars, leaving talks at an impasse. The studio faces a December deadline before the rights revert to Mattel, which could reassign the project to another studio. The original "Barbie" film earned roughly $1.5 billion worldwide, underscoring the high stakes of the stalled negotiations.