The Hollywood trades are reporting that Cartoon Network has acquired broadcast rights to a new Hot Wheels cartoon series from Canadian cartoon producer Nelvana and Mattel Entertainment.  The Toon net has ordered 26 episodes of the computer-animated Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5, which is being produced in conjunction with the Vancouver-based Nerd Corps (League of Super Evil, Storm Hawks) and will air on Saturday mornings starting in fall of 2009.

Mattel has plans to use the new series, which will also air in Canada, as the basis for a worldwide marketing program to promote the toy racing franchise that will include licensing, merchandising and online components.  Since the success of Hasbro’s Transformers movie, Mattel has also been pushing for a Hot Wheels-based feature film.  Sony currently has the movie rights, but according to Variety, Joel Silver might be interested in acquiring the property for Warner Bros.

The acquisition of the Hot Wheels series appears to confirm the emphasis that Cartoon Network content officer Rob Sorcher has placed on boys’ action and adventure shows—something that is most evident in the Cartoon Net’s Friday night line-up that is anchored by Star Wars: The Clone Wars (see “Clone Wars Scores Highest Ratings Ever’).