A film starring John Cena and Jessica Biel is being shot in northern Slovakia. (source: Polícia SR/Freepik)
What began as a quiet film shoot in the hills of northern Slovakia has escalated into a full-blown Hollywood spectacle. The region around Žilina and Kysuce is now the backdrop for “Matchbox”, a new high-octane action film inspired by the iconic miniature toy cars.
And it has brought star power. Actor and former wrestler John Cena has been spotted in local cafés, while actress Jessica Biel visited the historic Strečno Castle — and, as it turns out, the region of her ancestors.
Production crews arrived late last month, bringing with them helicopters, stunt teams, high-performance cars, and towering lorries, according to My Kysuce. One such truck recently smashed through guardrails on a motorway bridge and tumbled dramatically to the ground — part of a carefully orchestrated stunt, though startling to locals.
To accommodate the shoot, four motorway tunnels — Poľana and Svrčinovec on the D3, Žilina and Ovčiarsko on the D1 — have been closed until mid-April. The temporary shutdown has caused detours and delays, but also a significant economic boost for the region.
The film’s production company has paid Slovakia’s National Highway Company (NDS) more than €440,000 in fees, including over €170,000 in lost toll revenue. Local municipalities have benefited as well.
“Matchbox” is not the first production to choose the dramatic landscape of the Skalité–Svrčinovec motorway section — the tunnels and bridges also featured in “Jack Ryan”. And the nearby Vychylovka open-air museum remains a favourite for filmmakers.
Meanwhile, Jessica Biel’s visit has taken a personal turn. According to Slovak media, her great-great-great-grandfather, Moritz Biel, was born in the village of Porúbka and lived in Žilina before emigrating to America in 1888. His former home has since been replaced by garages, but the actress might be looking to trace what remains of her family’s roots in the region.
