Diksha Sundriyal
In Apple TV’s ‘Matchbox: The Movie,’ a CIA agent reconnects with his childhood friends, only to drag them into a conspiracy designed to frame him for the theft of a nuclear warhead. The protagonist is Sean Walker, who has proven himself a highly capable agent, especially within the special unit he works for, Blackthorn. However, when the warhead that he was supposed to deliver goes missing, he has to go to extreme lengths to prove his innocence, and his friends get embroiled in the same. The film uses the backdrop of real political events, such as peace talks between NATO and Russia, to highlight the urgency of the matter, lending a faint sense of realism to the hero and his story. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Sean Walker and Blackthorn are Fictional Creations to Serve the Plot
‘Matchbox: The Movie’ takes the Mattel toy and weaves a fictional tale around it, delivering a high-octane thriller. The character Sean Walker was created specifically to build the plot around the game, with his CIA background heightening the stakes for him and the world. When actor John Cena was approached to play the lead role, he had his doubts about the project, especially since there was still no concrete script. Despite his initial reluctance, he was intrigued by the idea because he had been a fan of Mattel and Hot Wheels since he was a kid. Talking about his passion for Matchbox cars, he revealed that he and his brothers had several models, which they would often swap.
The former WWE wrestler stated that his favorite model was a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 in fire engine red, which he would always choose in the swap. His love for Matchbox cars carried over into adulthood, and he credits his fondness for fast cars to the fun and memories of his childhood. Because of this personal connection, he wanted to join the project and took a leap of faith, which paid off when he read and loved David Coggeshall’s script. However, Cena confessed that when he signed on to do the film, he thought that he would have more scenes where he got to drive, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. While he did get to do some fast driving, which he absolutely loved, there were other stunts that he wasn’t necessarily a fan of.
Cena revealed that he has a fear of heights, which was truly tested in scenes where he had to jump off a building, hang from the edge of a bridge, or perform helicopter scenes, one of which has him jumping from a helicopter into the river. While the film did have stunt doubles for particularly dangerous and critical scenes, director Sam Hargrave encouraged his actors to perform their own stunts as much as possible. He reassured Cena and allayed his fears, showing him how far they could push themselves while being completely safe. The actor conceded that the scenes would look better and more realistic that way, so he steeled himself and faced his fears.
Apart from the thrill and fear of the stunts, Cena also liked how the film delves into a much more personal side for the character. His time at the CIA has isolated him to the point that he believes he cannot work with others. He reveals that he was part of the Blackthorn program, which no one has heard of, showing how dangerous and covert the missions he has been on have been. He has dragged himself out of such dire situations that he truly believes he works well on his own. In the end, however, he learns that having friends and someone who looks out for you is not only helpful and necessary, particularly outside of work. This arc lends more depth to the storyline and makes Sean feel more real and relatable, despite being a fictional character.
Read More: Matchbox The Movie Ending Explained: What Happens to the Bomb?
You must be logged in to post a comment.