Warner Bros. Consumer Products has named Mattel as the global master toy licensee for both Speed Racer and The Dark Knight, two major summer 2008 film releases from Warner Bros. Pictures.  Since the two movies feature iconic vehicles -- Speed Racer's Mach 5 (see 'Speed Racer's New Mach 5'), and Batman's Batmobile -- they should offer Mattel much more than just the opportunity to create action figures, and indeed Mattel plans to create a wide variety of toys based on the two films including vehicles, role-playing toys, remote-controlled vehicles, handheld electronics, games and puzzles.

Speed Racer, which is based on the classic anime series by Tatsuo Yoshida, roars onto screens on May 9th, 2008.  The high octane, family-friendly adventure provides plenty of opportunity for vehicular pleasure and Mattel will concentrate on the racing movie's hot cars with its signature die cast line, Hot Wheels, featuring a wide assortment of die cast cars, race sets and track sets based on the film; while Tyco, Mattel's R/C company, will put kids in control of their own Mach 5 with hand-held controls; and Radica, Mattel's newly acquired games and electronics division will put literally put kids behind the wheel of the film's slick racers.  Mattel's Speed Racer offerings should be in stores starting in March of 2008.

The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's sequel to the popular Batman Begins, debuts on July 19th.  Mattel plans to make the most of the new elements introduced in The Dark Knight, which means in addition to the Batmobile, Mattel will also produce a toy version of the Batpod, a new vehicle unveiled in the film. The new Batsuit will be seen on the appropriate Batman action figures, and the assortments will also include figures of the movie's villains, The Joker and Harvey Dent.  Tyco will produce R/C versions of both the Batmobile and the Batpod, while Mattel will expand its line of role-playing toys so kids can pretend to be the Gotham crimefighter.  In addition Mattel will also release a number of tie-in board games and puzzles as well as a special Batman-themed edition of the UNO card game.  Mattel's The Dark Knight toys will begin hitting retail in June of 2008.