The highly successful “Barbie” movie that took the world by storm in 2023, as part of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, may be getting a sequel. Despite the first film not having an ending that clearly set up a follow-up, its whopping $1.4 billion box office haul has seemingly piqued Warner Bros.’ interest in a second installment.
It stated that Warner Bros. is considering a sequel with the movie’s screenwriters, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. It reported that the pair approached the studio with an idea for another movie and, according to a “well-placed source”, the project is in the “early stages”. Another source with “direct knowledge” claimed it was their story pitch that got WB to start discussions. However, reps for Gerwig, Baumbach, and WB have all denied report, though the publication stands by it. Gerwig and Baumbach’s reps also refute the claims.
What these responses mean for the possibility of a “Barbie” sequel is that it might be premature to celebrate. Given the movie’s massive box office success, it’s understandable that Warner Bros. would want a follow-up. But the denials from the studio and the writers’ reps seem to contradict the reports of progress. While it’s possible they’re keeping things under wraps until the project is more solid, there have been many instances where such rumored projects based on anonymous sources ended up being unfounded.
Even if reports of a potential “Barbie 2” are accurate, its success would likely depend on getting Margot Robbie back as Barbie. While the first movie’s premise could allow for a new Barbie to be the focus in a sequel, Robbie’s role as the lead star and producer was crucial to the original’s success. A sequel without her would face a significant hurdle.
Our take on the chances of “Barbie 2” is that, at present, it’s unclear whether Gerwig and Baumbach will actually develop a sequel, especially considering Gerwig’s commitments to Netflix’s “Chronicles of Narnia” movies. However, given the huge response to the first film, both Warner Bros. and Mattel would surely be eager to revisit the property if possible. For now, it’s best to approach these latest reports with caution until more official announcements confirm them. In Hollywood, rumored projects often don’t come to fruition, and audiences will surely be watching closely for more information to see if “Barbie 2” is truly in the works.
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