Tom Hanks Circles Major Matt Mason Project

Universal will develop "Major Matt Mason," a live-action feature based on the vintage Mattel action figure. Pic will be developed as a star vehicle for Tom Hanks, and Graham Yost will write the script.

Playtone partners Hanks and Gary Goetzman will produce.

The toy line originated in 1966; Mason led an astronaut team that worked on the moon and lived in a space station. The toy was a hit in the buildup to the first manned moon mission. Mattel retired the line in the 1970s.

Mattel execs Tim Kilpin and Barry Waldo will serve as exec producer.

Universal adds the film project to several toy-based movie projects the studio has percolating with Hasbro, with a "Stretch Armstrong" film being written by Steve Oedekerk, "Monopoly" with Ridley Scott, "Candyland" with "Tropic Thunder" scribe Etan Cohen and director Kevin Lima, and the Platinum Dunes-produced "Ouija."

Thoughts:

Sounds somewhat intriguing, but I have never heard of this action figure. I hope people don't see this as another Apollo 13 even though both involved Hanks in space and both were distributed by Universal Pictures. Hopefully we hear more about this film in the near future.