- « Barbie » director Greta Gerwig said she was at « totally zero » regarding ideas for a sequel.
- THR reported in December 2024 that « Barbie 2 » is in « early stages » based on a concept from Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
- However, reps for Gerwig, Baumbach, and Warner Bros. denied THR’s report, calling it inaccurate.
It looks like everyone is living in a « Barbie » world, and the party might not be over yet.
The 2023 Greta Gerwig-directed movie starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken raked in $1.4 billion globally, winning the box office battle against Christopher Nolan‘s « Oppenheimer. »
« Barbie » wasn’t just a box office sensation. The movie earned an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, landed eight Oscar nominations, and became a pop culture phenomenon.
Given its critical and commercial success, it’s only natural to wonder whether the studio is planning « Barbie 2 » with Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie.
Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz previously told Time magazine that the company is keen to make « more ‘Barbie’ movies. »
« We’re looking to create movies that become cultural events. If you can excite filmmakers like Greta and Noah to embrace the opportunity and have creative freedom, you can have a real impact, » he said.
At the time, Gerwig said she was unsure about taking on a sequel, but a new report suggests that she might be back for more.
Greta Gerwig addressed ‘Barbie 2’ in a 2023 interview with The New York Times
In an interview published in July 2023, the director told The New York Times that she exhausted all her ideas for « Barbie. »
« I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I’ll never have another idea, and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did, » Gerwig said.
She added, « I wouldn’t want to squash anybody else’s dream but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero. »
However, speaking to Uproxx about Ken’s obsession with Sylvester Stallone in the movie, Gerwig joked that the « Rocky » star could show up in « Barbie 2, » or even direct it himself.
« You never know! » she said. « Or that he’s going to direct it. I mean, he’s welcome to it. It would be an honor. It would be such an honor. »
While Gerwig wasn’t sold on the idea of returning, star and producer Robbie told Time in June 2023 that conversations about a sequel had yet to happen.
« It could go a million different directions from this point, » she said.
But Robbie also said that « you fall into a bit of a trap if you try and set up a first movie whilst also planning for sequels. »
Mattel is also looking to make movies based on its other properties, like a Hot Wheels movie being developed by J.J. Abrams.
A new report suggested a ‘Barbie’ sequel could be in the works, but it’s unclear
On December 13, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter published a story reporting that Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, who cowrote the « Barbie » screenplay, presented Warner Bros. with an idea for a sequel that was in the « early stages. » The publication also said that talks about a deal were in similarly early stages.
Don’t get excited yet, though: Gerwig and Baumbach’s rep denied THR’s report, telling the publication, « There is no legitimacy to this reporting. »
And a rep for Warner Bros. said, « THR’s reporting is inaccurate. »
2024-12-13 23:38:23
