Tracie Laymon, the filmmaker behind recent SXSW prize-winner Bob Trevino Likes It, has been enlisted to write and direct a live-action Tony the Tattooed Man feature for Mattel Studios.
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Laymon shared, for her part: “I was immediately drawn to Tony the Tattooed Man from the minute I saw his name and then learned about his short-lived journey as a discontinued toy. His story is a reminder of the healing power of second chances and not judging a book – or a person – by their cover, a message I believe the world needs right now. It is an honor to partner with Mattel, who are true allies for artists, on a film that will help restore our faith in humanity.”
Laymon’s breakout feature Bob Trevino Likes It, starring John Leguizamo and Barbie Ferreira, premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award. Following a lonely young woman who strikes up a relationship online with a stranger who shares her father’s name, the film was acquired by Roadside Attractions and released in theaters in March of last year.
Mattel Studios recently enlisted Hannah Hafey & Kaitlin Smith to write their live-action Monster High movie, as we first reported early last month. The studio’s anticipated first live-action feature, on the heels of the 2023 cultural phenomenon Barbie, is Masters of the Universe, starring Nicholas Galitzine, which Amazon MGM releases in North America on June 5. Apple, Skydance and Mattel’s live-action Matchbox movie, starring John Cena, is also expected to bow in 2026.
From Deadline.com