There’s been a whole glut of toy-based films these past few years — you may know them simply because they refuse to go away — so it’s about time the men behind the products got a little spotlight. That’s just what’s happening with Snake & Mongoose, which, according to Variety, has grabbed Noah Wyle to play Arthur Spear, a ’70s Mattel executive responsible for introducing commercial advertising in the world of car racing.

The film itself — written by Alan Paradise & Wayne Holloway, and directed by the latter — also focuses on Don “The Snake” Prudhomme (Jesse Williams) and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen (Richard Blake), two racers who were given a big boost when Spear decided to place the Hot Wheels logo on the side of their cars, making the toy “the first non-automotive sponsor in a racing sport.” Along with the obvious financial benefit to be gained from the partnership, the game itself was aided by the addition.

What else lies in that story is not something I know for certain, but I already like Wyle enough to give this some passing attention. (And the basics at least have a layout for an interesting story.) Stephen Nemeth (The Surrogate) will produce through his Rhino Films, while Entertainment Universe are financing. There’s no indication of when shooting may start.

How does Snake & Mongoose strike you at this point?