The wildly successful Barbie movie, which grossed a whopping US$1.4 billion globally and became one of the most talked-about cultural phenomena of 2023, may soon be returning to the big screen. The massive success of Barbie captivated audiences with its whimsical yet touching depiction of the iconic doll’s life in Barbie Land. (Also Read | Could Greta Gerwig’s Barbie 2 be in the pipeline? Warner Bros has major game in the works, Letterboxd has also approved the blockbuster)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources close to the project have indicated that Oscar-nominated writers Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have already developed an idea for a sequel to the blockbuster film. However, Warner Bros. and the filmmakers have denied these reports. But insiders confirm that discussions are ongoing, and the project is currently in the “early stages.”
Barbie’s success has fans curiously asking if there will be more stories to tell. While Warner Bros. and Mattel showed immediate interest in a potential sequel, the decision ultimately rested on Greta and Noah Baumbach, the creative minds behind the film’s success.
Greta, who both directed and co-wrote Barbie, has been vocal about the importance of a meaningful story before making a sequel.
In March 2024, while accepting her Time Women of the Year honor, she explained, “My North Star is, who do I love deeply? Who do I really care about? What’s the story beneath this story? If If I get Undertow, we’ve got this, if I don’t get an undertaking, there’s nothing else,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
However, it appears that Greta and Noah have now got that “undertow.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two have settled on a story idea for a sequel and have already presented it to Warner Bros.
Although no official deal has been made yet, preliminary discussions are reportedly taking place regarding next steps, including scripting and scheduling.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, if the deal moves forward, Noah is expected to begin working on the script with Greta.
The couple, who are known for their collaborative writing process, typically share drafts and feedback throughout the creative journey.
A potential sequel would require balancing the creative schedules of both Greta and Noah.
Noah is currently immersed in post-production on his upcoming Netflix film, an untitled upcoming project that stars an ensemble cast including Greta, George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and more.
Meanwhile, Greta is preparing her own Netflix adaptation of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, which producer Amy Pascal describes as having a “rock and roll” vibe.
While most of the details of the sequel are still under wraps, the involvement of Margot Robbie is confirmed, who not only starred as Barbie but also played a key role in bringing the project to fruition as a producer through her LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
The film’s success has already earned Margot an Academy Award nomination, while the film garnered eight Oscar nominations, winning Best Original Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s hit, ‘What Was I Made For’.
Margot, who starred alongside Ryan Gosling as Kane, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon and many others, has praised Greta’s singular vision in making Barbie such a cultural and critical success.
“Greta cracked the code of this movie as best she could,” Margot said in an interview, adding, “It’s a unique vision, and Greta brought a lot of humanity, creativity, inspiration, to Barbie.” “Bringing magic and happiness.” According to The Hollywood Reporter.
