(Left) Vin Diesel at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Mattel’s ‘Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots’. Photo: Amazon.
Preview:
- Vin Diesel is writing the script for the ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’ movie.
- Diesel was already aboard to star in and produce the pic.
- Mattel is backing the movie via its film arm.
Even though it constantly cropped up in slightly joking fashion on lists of other potential toy franchises when board games and more started being adapted in bigger number for movies, Vin Diesel isn’t laughing about ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.’
The ‘Fast & Furious’ star/driving force has been aboard an adaptation of the pugilistic ‘bots for some time now –– in fact, his involvement was first announced back in 2021 –– but we have an update for you.
Deadline brings word that Diesel is adding the title of writer to his list of jobs on the movie, which already included starring and producing via his One Race production company.
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What’s the story of ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’?
Mattel’s ‘Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots’. Photo: Amazon.
That’s the big question right now –– nobody really knows outside of Vin and the Mattel Studios team, which has been developing this one.
While the robots –– called Blue Bomber and Red Rocker –– were first on toy shelves way back in 1966, they didn’t come with the most complicated back story.
Still, ‘Rampage’ and ‘The Commuter’s Ryan Engle wrote an original screenplay, which follows a father and son who form an unlikely bond with an advanced war machine.
Whether Diesel plans to start from scratch or use that version as the basis for his script remains to be seen.
‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’: Diesel and Mattel talk
Vin DIesel in ‘The Last Witch Hunter’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Here’s Vin on the movie:
“I am excited to expand the Mattel universe by bringing this classic toy from my childhood to a modern audience by telling a story that examines the role of competition in a world often measured by strength and dominance that dares to reveal the power of compassion at its core.”
And this is what Robbie Brenner, President of Mattel Studios and Chief Content Officer had to say:
“Vin is a powerhouse storyteller with an unmatched understanding of action, heart, and world-building. His creative vision for ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’ is bold, human, and deeply cinematic—exactly the kind of storytelling we love at Mattel Studios.”
When will ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’ be in theaters?
While the movie at one point had Diesel’s ‘Fast’ partners Universal attached, the company appears to have dropped the project. So it’ll take another studio picking it up before we learn an actual date.
Vin Diesel as Riddick in 2013’s ‘Riddick.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
