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Barbie 2 is reportedly in the early stages of development, but not without some confusion surrounding the news. The first movie took the world by storm in 2023, dominating the box office and culture at large as the cheery half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon. While the film doesn’t end in a way that suggests a sequel was inevitable, its $1.4 billion box office may have Warner Bros. considering a second go regardless.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is interested in pursuing a sequel with Barbie‘s screenwriters, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. THR reports that the pair have approached the studio with an idea for another movie, and per a “well-placed source“, the project is in the “early stages“. According to another source with “direct knowledge“, it was the story pitch from Gerwig and Baumbach that convinced WB to start discussions. However, reps for both Gerwig and Baumbach as well as WB have denied THR‘s report, though the publication stands behind it. Gerwig and Baumbach’s reps have also reached out to Screen Rant to deny the report.
What These Responses Mean For The Barbie Sequel
It May Still Be Too Early To Celebrate
Given Barbie’s overwhelming box office response, it is not hard to imagine why Warner Bros. would be interested in developing a follow-up. However, the subsequent denials from both the studio and Gerwig and Baumbach’s reps would appear to debunk claims of any such project moving forward. While it is indeed possible that both parties would like to keep any such project firmly under wraps until it is on a more secure footing, it would also not be the first time hopes raised over reports from anonymous sources were dashed when they were later proven to be baseless.
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6 Reasons Barbie 2 Is A Bad Idea (Despite The First Movie’s $1.4 Billion Box Office Success)
Barbie became a record-breaking sensation and pop culture phenomenon in 2023, but that doesn’t mean Barbie 2 is a good idea, and here’s why.
Yet, even if these reports of a potential Barbie 2 turn out to be accurate, any hopes for a successful sequel will also likely hinge on luring Margot Robbie back into the titular role. While the underlying premise of the first movie would technically make it possible for a sequel to focus on a whole new Barbie, Robbie’s involvement as both the leading star and producer was also a major contributor to the film’s success, and any sequel without her would start off with a major disadvantage.
Our Take On Barbie 2’s Chances
Warner Bros. Would Undoubtedly Be Keen On A Sequel
At this stage, the chances of Gerwig and Baumbach developing a new Barbie sequel are still unclear, despite recent reports. Moreover, given Gerwig’s current commitments to Netflix’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movies, her ability to devote much attention to developing any such project will likely be hampered for at least the immediate future. Nonetheless, given the tremendous response to first movie’s release, both Warner Bros. and Mattel would undoubtedly be keen to return to the property if given the chance.
As such, it is probably best to treat these latest reports with a certain degree of caution, at least until more official announcements coalesce to substantiate their claims. Barbie 2 may still be in the pipeline as initially suggested, but Hollywood is also notorious for seeing rumored projects fail to materialize on a nearly constant basis. In the meantime, audiences will likely be looking closely for more information regarding the validity of these latest reports.
Source: THR
Barbie 2
Barbie 2 is a rumored sequel to the 2023 box-office smash hit. Though discussions surrounding a future film have reportedly been discussed, the film has yet to be announced.