Jessica Biel Explains How Complex 'Matchbox' Racing Scenes Were

Jessica Biel personally performed some of the racing and chase scenes in Matchbox: The Movie (2026) and assures that the experience was very different from simply appearing confident behind the wheel. In an exclusive interview with Omelete, the actress described the complexity of the practical sequences directed by Sam Hargrave.

“Driving a vehicle at high speed on a highway, with other cars around and giant camera arms moving around the car while everyone is going 60 miles per hour, seems crazy,” she said. In the film, Biel plays Aimee, a paramedic and race car driver who ends up involved in an international mission alongside her childhood friends. To play the character, she underwent high-performance driving training.

The actress especially praised the stunt team, who had to perform precise movements while the vehicles moved forward at high speed.

"Everything becomes so real that you genuinely worry about how close the huge truck is, the other elements, and the motorcyclists coming up behind you."

At one point, Biel had to drive with John Cena's stunt double hanging under a truck, extremely close to his car. "John's stunt double was hanging under the truck, looking at me, just inches away," he revealed. "It was insane. It made everything much scarier, more exciting, and more real."

The production employed 376 set vehicles and prioritized chases and stunts performed practically, using digital effects mainly to increase the safety of those involved.

Everything you need to know about Matchbox

Matchbox: The Movie is an Apple original film, produced by Skydance Media and Mattel Films and inspired by Mattel's iconic toys. The Matchbox brand was invented in 1953 by car enthusiast Jack Odell to solve a problem for his daughter, who was only allowed to bring a toy to school if it was small enough to fit inside a matchbox. When his daughter's school friends also started asking for a "matchbox car," Odell launched the franchise.

The film's story is a globe-trotting action adventure about a group of childhood friends whose lives are turned upside down when CIA secret agent Sean (John Cena), their leader who had long since disappeared, returns and unintentionally drags them into a frantic international mission to save the world.

In addition to John Cena, Jessica Biel and Teyonah Parris, the cast also includes Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Danai Gurira, Golshifteh Faranhani, and more. Sam Hargrave directs from a screenplay by David Coggeshall.

Matchbox: The Movie premieres on October 9, 2026.