Mattel has been in communication with Illumination to work on a potential animated Barbie film. According to a report from the Puck newsletter, Mattel recently met with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri to discuss the details for the developing movie.
Although details for the Barbie movie are still under wrap, both parties are aiming to further elevate the Barbie franchise’s popularity with a highly appealing animated film.
The Puck newspaper adds that although the original live-action Barbie movie was produced by Warner Bros, Mattel still owns the animation rights. Additionally, the Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, who were key figures behind the success of the 2023 Barbie film weren’t “thrilled” by the idea of an animated film.
Barbie was directed by Greta Gerwig from a script she co-wrote with her husband, Noah Baumbach. The film was produced by Robbie and Mattel Film’s very own Tom Ackerly, along with Josey McNamara and Ynon Kreiz. Upon its theatrical release, the movie achieved remarkable success, grossing $1.4 billion worldwide at the box office and becoming one of the highest-gross films of 2023.
The Barbie cast includes notable actors such as Ryan Gosling, Robbie, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Alexander Shipp, Emma Mackey, Michael Cera, Hari Nef, Helen Mirren, Dua Lipa, and more.
