diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index 9c21a6c1675..985379e605b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
 
         self._task.loop_control.post_validate(templar=templar)
 
+        unpack = self._task.loop_control.unpack
         loop_var = self._task.loop_control.loop_var
         index_var = self._task.loop_control.index_var
         loop_pause = self._task.loop_control.pause
@@ -296,6 +297,10 @@ class TaskExecutor:
         for item_index, item in enumerate(items):
             task_vars['ansible_loop_var'] = loop_var
 
+            if unpack is True:
+                if not isinstance(item, Mapping):
+                    raise AnsibleError('loop_control.unpack can only be used with a mapping/dictionary. Got %r' % item.__class__.__name__)
+                task_vars.update(item)
             task_vars[loop_var] = item
             if index_var:
                 task_vars['ansible_index_var'] = index_var
@@ -362,6 +367,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
             res['_ansible_item_result'] = True
             res['_ansible_ignore_errors'] = task_fields.get('ignore_errors')
             res['_ansible_ignore_unreachable'] = task_fields.get('ignore_unreachable')
+            res['_ansible_loop_unpack'] = unpack
 
             # gets templated here unlike rest of loop_control fields, depends on loop_var above
             try:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/included_file.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/included_file.py
index d2fdb76364d..7b447b375ca 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/included_file.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/included_file.py
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ class IncludedFile:
                     if loop_var in include_result:
                         task_vars[loop_var] = special_vars[loop_var] = include_result[loop_var]
                         task_vars['ansible_loop_var'] = special_vars['ansible_loop_var'] = loop_var
+                        if include_result.get('_ansible_loop_unpack', False):
+                            task_vars.update(task_vars[loop_var])
+                            special_vars.update(task_vars[loop_var])
                     if index_var and index_var in include_result:
                         task_vars[index_var] = special_vars[index_var] = include_result[index_var]
                         task_vars['ansible_index_var'] = special_vars['ansible_index_var'] = index_var
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/loop_control.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/loop_control.py
index 8581b1f8b45..dc6c9266345 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/loop_control.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/loop_control.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from ansible.playbook.base import FieldAttributeBase
 
 class LoopControl(FieldAttributeBase):
 
+    unpack = NonInheritableFieldAttribute(isa='bool', default=False, always_post_validate=True)
     loop_var = NonInheritableFieldAttribute(isa='string', default='item', always_post_validate=True)
     index_var = NonInheritableFieldAttribute(isa='string', always_post_validate=True)
     label = NonInheritableFieldAttribute(isa='string')