Jessica Biel (44) Goes Black and White for Intimate Pre-Premiere Portraits on the ‘Matchbox’ Press Tour

Few press tours have produced as many memorable outfits as Jessica Biel’s current run for her new action comedy. Over the past two weeks, she has worked her way through photocalls, premieres and screenings across three cities, rarely repeating a single idea. Now a new set of images is giving fans a quieter look at what happens before the cameras start flashing.

Biel’s wardrobe has leaned heavily on black, but she has kept finding fresh ways to play with it. She has moved from sleek leather to sheer layers and structured tailoring, each look carrying its own mood. It’s the kind of campaign that makes fans wonder what the preparation looks like.

That curiosity got an answer this week. A pair of black-and-white portraits shared on X by Cinethology shows the actress in a relaxed, intimate moment that appears to come from before a red carpet appearance. The post doesn’t specify which premiere the photos are tied to, but they capture her in a very different mood from the polished carpet shots.

Jessica Biel stuns for ‘MATCHBOX’ premiere. 📷 https://t.co/5VBmE94VM7

— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 8, 2026

In the first image, Biel is photographed in profile, looking over her bare shoulder. A white robe slips down her arms, and window light gives the monochrome frame a soft glow. Her hair is pulled into a very long, high ponytail, and she wears a dramatic drop earring with a chain-like detail.

The second image is more playful. She stands against a dark wood-paneled wall, one hand pressed to the surface, smiling as she glances back at the camera. The robe hangs off her shoulders, a ring is visible on her hand, and a handbag and a small bottle sit on a table behind her.

Together, the photos feel like a glimpse of the getting-ready process rather than a formal portrait. The black-and-white treatment adds a classic, almost old-Hollywood feel, and it makes the earring and the long ponytail the key details. After days of bold fashion, the simplicity is a nice change of pace.

The images arrive in the middle of a carefully varied run of looks. At the Mexico City photocall on September 30, Biel wore an all-black outfit with a sculpted high-neck halter, a leather midi skirt and pointed Le Silla pumps. The following day, at the Mexico City premiere, she switched to an Adam Lippes sheer sequined cape over a black bandeau and a white midi skirt.

In New York on October 5, she wore a Dolce & Gabbana blazer open over her bare torso with a sheer floor-length skirt. Her stylists, Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi, added Cartier diamond drop earrings that reportedly cost $135,000, while hairstylist Adir Abergel gave her a waist-length mane. Two days later in London, she appeared in a black Nensi Dojaka cut-out strapless gown with oversized gold Schiaparelli earrings and a high ponytail.

That means her styling has moved through monochrome, sheer layering, tailoring and cut-outs in just over a week. The black-and-white portraits fit neatly into that pattern, echoing the palette while stripping away the glamour. They suggest the team behind the tour has been thinking in terms of a visual story.

All of this attention builds toward the film’s release. ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ arrives on Apple TV on October 9 and is directed by Sam Hargrave, the filmmaker behind ‘Extraction’, from a script by David Coggeshall. It follows a group of childhood friends whose lives are upended when their long-absent former leader, undercover CIA agent Sean, played by John Cena, returns to their small town.

First trailer for ‘MATCHBOX: THE MOVIE’, based on the Mattel toy cars. Releasing October 9 on Apple TV. https://t.co/ogoFCKLsBS

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 25, 2026

The ensemble cast also includes Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Danai Gurira and Golshifteh Farahani. It’s an Apple Original Film from Skydance Media and Mattel Films, and it’s the next Mattel release after ‘Barbie’ in 2023. For Biel, it’s also her first film in nine years.

She has been promoting the project for months. At Apple TV’s press day in February, she wore a dark-chocolate organza top layered over a matching camisole with tailored leather trousers, and she later appeared at San Diego Comic-Con, where the film’s trailer debuted. Looking back, the tour has been steady, polished and consistently stylish.

With the film arriving on streaming just a day after these portraits circulated, the campaign is entering its final stretch. After so many bold red carpet moments, it’s fitting that one of the last images feels so personal. It shows the actress relaxed, smiling and ready for the evening ahead.

The real test now is how audiences respond to the movie itself. If the reception matches the enthusiasm around the press tour, Biel’s return to film could be a memorable one.

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