Barbie Sequel Already in the Works, Although Nobody Asked For It (Yet)

In recent months, no other project seems to have generated as much buzz in the media as Barbie.

And no wonder, considering that in addition to a star-studded cast, Greta Gerwig is the director, offering a fun yet critical journey into the multibillion-dollar world of Mattel's toy line.

Journalists and influencers who have already seen the movie report that Gerwig's Barbie is a light-hearted watch, but it isn't devoid of feminist critique. And while most viewers are yet to see the film to make their own judgment, Mattel is already banking on a sequel, apparently.

The intention of Mattel, led by CEO Ynon Kreiz, is to turn Barbie into a franchise with numerous intellectual properties, including movies and video games. The company decided to take a risky approach to expanding the business, inviting Greta Gerwig to produce a film that could potentially ruin Mattel's reputation and make it a laughing stock.

'In that very first meeting, we impressed upon Ynon we are going to honor the legacy of your brand, but if we don't acknowledge certain things — if we don't say it, someone else is going to say it. So you might as well be a part of that conversation,' Margot Robbie told Time about her first meeting with Kreiz in 2019.

The unrealistic beauty standards that Mattel sets for children have long been the subject of public criticism. However, this has recently changed with the introduction of Barbie with different body types. With its new approach to business, Mattel hopes to redefine beauty standards, turning the Barbie universe into a feminist paradise.

In Gerwig's story, the 'classic' Barbie and Ken undergo some surprising personal transformation as the two face existential and identity crises after they're forced to leave Barbie Land and move to the mundane real world populated by ordinary humans. And it looks like Mattel's CEO is overly impressed with the movie, discussing a possible sequel with Gerwig and Robbie even before the film is released.

However, Margot Robbie doesn't seem very enthusiastic about the Barbie sequel, arguing that it's still unclear where the story might go from here.

'It could go a million different directions from this point. But I think you fall into a bit of a trap if you try and set up a first movie whilst also planning for sequels,' the actress said.

Evidently, Barbie needs to be introduced to the public first, so the audience can express their opinion on how well Grewig and Mattel have handled the theme. From there, the producers can choose one out of 'a million different directions' for their story, depending on what fans and critics like and dislike about the first movie.

Barbie hits theaters on July 21, 2023.

Source: Time.