Jessica Biel is making her long-awaited return to making films with “Matchbox The Movie,” marking her first feature film in nine years. While the actress has remained active with television projects during that time, including starring in and producing several series, she stepped away from theatrical releases to prioritize time with her family. Now, Biel is back with the upcoming action-comedy film inspired by the iconic toy brand.
Jessica Biel attended the San Diego Comic-Con on July 25 with her “Matchbox The Movie” co-stars, including John Cena, Teyonah Parris, Sam Richardson, and Arturo Castro, to promote their upcoming Apple TV+ film.
The actress’ last movie appearance was in the political drama “Shock and Awe,” which premiered in late 2017. While speaking with reporters, Biel appeared surprised when it was noted that nearly a decade had passed since her last movie.
“Oh my god, really?” the actress exclaimed before telling Entertainment Weekly about her new movie. Biel said starring in the Mattel Films movie, which is based on the brand of mini die-cast toy cars that became a global phenomenon, felt nostalgic.
Biel said she played with Matchbox toys as a child, and that it was an “amazing opportunity” to be included in the film. “I really was excited about getting back into an action space, a comedy space, learning to drive these amazing cars, incorporating all this fun humor in this cool, like, collab genre,” she said of her new project.
The Actress Is Excited About Getting Back Into Films
At Comic-Con, Biel shared that she had been excited about getting back into making films, but said it had to be the right project. It seemed “Matchbox The Movie” checked the box.
The movie follows undercover CIA agent Sean (Cena) as he returns to his small town and reconnects with his childhood friends, thrusting them into an international mission to save the world.
Biel said filming the movie transported her back to her childhood when she and her siblings played with Matchbox cars, GI Joe, and Barbie. “We had a lot of Matchbox cars. And I mean, I’m still buying Matchbox for my kids now! It never goes away, it never gets old,” she told PEOPLE.
Jessica Biel’s Kids Joined Her While Filming
One of the reasons why Biel stepped back from film projects was to focus on her family. She and her husband Justin Timberlake share two boys: Silas, born in 2015, and Phineas, whom they welcomed in 2020.
Biel revealed the filming schedule in 2025 for her upcoming movie “literally couldn’t have been worse.” At that time, Timberlake was in the middle of his world tour, and she was about to shoot in Hungary, Slovakia, and Morocco.
It left her with no choice but to bring her boys with her. “We had our incredible [travel] teachers and our incredible nanny and our family helped out… The kids are good, we’re good, it’s all positive,” Biel told InStyle. While in the middle of working and taking care of her kids, however, the actress admitted that it became overwhelming at times.
The Actress Almost Quit The Industry
Biel co-founded Iron Ocean with Michelle Purple in 2007, and the actress admitted that she almost left Hollywood after a string of disappointments.
“I started it with her when I was 22 and for the first 10 years, we had almost no success at all,” she said in an episode of “The Bright Side” podcast in 2024. Iron Ocean optioned the series “The Sinner,” which starred Biel in its first season. The actress admitted that while pitching the project to networks, she considered leaving the industry if they couldn’t sell the anthology series.
Fortunately, it sold. Biel received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her role as Cora Tannetti, and the series aired for three more seasons before concluding in 2021. Biel also executive produced other projects, including “Cruel Summer,” “Candy,” “Limetown,” and “The Better Sister.”
Jessica Biel Is Balancing Work With Motherhood
Biel has been open about her struggles with balancing work and being a present mother. The actress said that she and Timberlake arrange their schedules so that only one parent works full time in order for their kids to have a stable home life.
Admittedly, the actress said it’s difficult, and she doesn’t “do it well all the time.” She tries her best, though, and follows the advice Purple gave her after she gave birth to her eldest child. “She goes, ‘Listen, all you can do is: When you’re working, you’re 100-percent working, and when you’re home, you’re 100-percent home.’”
“Matchbox The Movie” is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV+ on October 9.
