Development of a Barbie sequel is paused over financial disputes between Warner Bros. and key talent, according to The New York Times. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the year, Warner Bros. risks losing rights to the project, which would revert to Mattel.
Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and director and co-screenwriter Greta Gerwig have not yet agreed on terms for a second movie. Gosling, who received an Oscar nomination for playing Ken, is demanding a $20 million fee, according to the publication. Talent agency CAA represents all three filmmakers.
Studio negotiations and legal risks
Warner Bros. studio co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca confirmed the negotiation difficulties. They stated that Warner Bros. holds an agreement with Mattel and has put forward several significant offers for a sequel, though no final deal has been reached.
Legal restrictions will apply if rights return to Mattel and the toy manufacturer chooses another studio for a new Barbie film. Under those conditions, story elements from the first film could not be used, and Robbie, Gosling, and Gerwig would not participate.
Box office success and future plans
The comedy Barbie was the highest-grossing film of 2023, earning about $1.5 billion globally and receiving eight Oscar nominations. It also stands as the most successful movie in the history of Warner Bros.
The original contract with Gerwig covered only one film and included no legal obligations for the actors to appear in sequels. Robbie previously stated that the project was not designed as a trilogy and that all initial ideas were used in the first movie. However, Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach reported that they have created a sequel concept and are ready to write the script once financial terms are settled.
Mattel doll releases
Mattel also introduced its first Barbie doll with autism, created alongside the autistic community. In July 2024, Mattel released its first blind Barbie and a doll with type 1 diabetes.
