The 2023 summer hit Barbie was bigger, better, and more lucrative a film than anyone could have anticipated. The story was strong, resonating with filmgoers across the demographics, and raking in tons of praise, talking points, and cash.
So of course everyone from fans to executives wondered if a sequel would be in the cards. But a clear path to a second film has not yet been charted.
Mattel Studios boss and Barbie producer Robbie Brenner talked about a follow-up to the hit live-action movie in a session at the Toronto Film Festival. “We all want to see the Barbie sequel,” she told the TIFF crowd. “I want to see it too. I’m sure at some point, one day, there will be one.”
Timing, however, remains an open question, with other Barbie projects also in the works. “Right now, we’re focused on, and we’re making, an animated Barbie movie with Chris Meledandri. That is super exciting, and yes, we will continue to do other Barbie things as well.”
Brenner received an Oscar nomination for producing director Greta Gerwig’s $1.4BN-grossing live-action Barbie movie, which starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Speculation about the sequel reached fever pitch in July when a New York Times article said Warner Bros. has until December to close a deal with Robbie, Gosling and Gerwig, the co-writer and director of the first movie.
If a sequel is not put into active development by the end of the year, the rights revert to Mattel. The toymaker then will not be permitted to use any previous iteration of Barbie and will face a full reboot at that point in time.
Brenner revealed some stories about making the first film, saying she’d heard 40 or 50 pitches before Gerwig raised her hand. “[Gerwig] had a vision of what she wanted to do and said, ‘I love Barbie.
I grew up with Barbie; I don’t know what the story is but I know that it’s gonna live in between a high heel and a Birkenstock’… so we went on the journey with her. When Greta said the thing about the high heel and the Birkenstock… that was the aha moment.”
I’m glad they were able to recognize the vision in Gerwig, as she was able to bring an incredible story to life. If a sequel happens with an equally strong story, I’m on board. But if that movie remains a standalone, it’s strong enough to remain a classic.
via: Deadline
