Barbie fans should start worrying: the sequel is in danger
After grossing over $1.4 billion, negotiations with Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Noah Baumbach have reached a deadlock, and Warner Bros. faces a deadline that could result in the loss of rights.
At the beginning of the 2023 film "Barbie," Margot Robbie asks her friends if they ever think about death — a moment that marks the beginning of her character's existential crisis. Three years later, as reported by Variety magazine, the question occupying quite a few senior figures in Hollywood is different: has Robbie's version of "Barbie" reached the end of its road?
According to the report, negotiations for a sequel to the massive hit have become so complicated that its future is now in doubt. At the center are some of the most powerful names in the industry: director and screenwriter Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, super-agent Bryan Lourd, Ryan Gosling, Noah Baumbach, as well as the heads of the studio's film division, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
The storm intensified after The New York Times recently reported that a sequel to "Barbie," the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. history, is in danger following a deadlock in contract negotiations. According to Variety, Zaslav is taking a tough stance against the high financial demands of the creative team — demands that, according to many sources in the industry, are significant but also justified given the success of the first film.
At the center of the contacts is Gerwig, who wrote and directed the first film. The success of "Barbie," which grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide, made her the most successful female director at the box office at the time. Alongside her in the negotiations are Baumbach, who wrote the script with her, Gosling, who played Ken, and Robbie, who served as both producer and star of the film.
According to the report, Warner Bros. has presented the team with more than six offers over the past three years — and all of them have been rejected. The latest offer was submitted at the end of spring. A source from the studio told Variety that it is the highest amount Warner Bros. has ever offered a film team and its stars, and described it as "life-changing money." However, another source familiar with the deals disagreed with this assessment, noting that while the total package for the four team members might be unprecedented, it is not necessarily the salary offered to each of them individually.
CAA, the agency representing all four, has not yet submitted a counter-offer. But beyond the money, a ticking clock hangs over the negotiations. According to Variety, De Luca and Abdy have about four months left to put another "Barbie" film into active development. If that does not happen, the rights to the iconic doll will return to the toy manufacturer Mattel.
In a scenario where a new agreement is not signed, Mattel will not be able to use materials from Gerwig's version of "Barbie" as a starting point for the next film and will be forced to perform a full reboot of the film brand. According to two sources, Gerwig and Baumbach already have an idea for a sequel, but they do not intend to reveal details until new contracts are signed.
