Daniel Mercer
With Warner Bros. now part of its portfolio, Skydance is eager to kickstart the development of Barbie 2.
Earlier this summer, reports emerged indicating that Warner Bros. was keen on producing a sequel. The studio had dedicated considerable time collaborating with writer/director Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. then-CEO David Zaslav deemed the proposed offers “too generous.” The stakes were high, as failure to finalize arrangements by December would result in the rights reverting to Mattel, potentially leaving the billion-dollar success of 2023 as a standalone film.
Given Skydance’s need for compelling projects and its track record of producing crowd-pleasing films, a sequel to Barbie seems increasingly plausible. Sources close to Variety have indicated that steps are being taken to initiate the sequel, with former Mattel CEO Ynon Kriez now serving as co-CEO at Skydance. this information is just a brief note within the outlet’s report, leaving the status of negotiations with Gerwig, Gosling, and Robbie unclear at this time.
Regardless of the developments, audiences should prepare for a wait; Gosling has recently secured a role in Marvel’s Ghost Rider, Gerwig is slated to direct Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix, and Robbie is set to co-star in the upcoming Ocean’s film. If Skydance successfully navigates these challenges, it might not be long before audiences are once again immersed in Barbie’s universe.
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