Mattel Needs a Sequel, Greta Gerwig’s Not Certain

Simply when all that pre-release Barbie buzz was beginning to make scorching pink really feel monotonous, the film opened—and delivered that sought-after mix of critical praise, audiences of each lovers and haters (which introduced even extra buzz), and massive box office success. Mattel executives might not have quite understood director Greta Gerwig’s intention forward of time, however they 100% perceive greenback indicators.

Inevitably, when a film’s an enormous hit, sequel speak occurs; sometimes, even earlier than the film’s an enormous hit, these in cost permit themselves to dream large. Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz places it plainly, speaking to Variety: “On the outset, we’re not saying, ‘Okay, let’s suppose already about film two and three.’ Let’s get the primary one proper and make {that a} success. And should you do this, alternatives open up in a short time, as soon as you determine the primary film as a profitable illustration of a franchise on the massive display screen … Profitable films lend themselves to extra films. Our ambition is to create movie franchises.”

We already know that Mattel has a number of different toy strains in thoughts for future variations (here’s a recent list of 14, including Barney and the Magic 8 Ball, that are in the queue), however you may’t actually blame its executives for hoping to recapture extra Barbie magic. “Barbie, as a model, has many alternative iterations … in addition to the principle Barbie determine, she has household, she has plenty of components round in her universe,” Kreiz advised the commerce.

The Barbie film explored a few of that, however there are definitely extra tales in that universe that could possibly be advised. Or are there? Chatting with the New York Occasions, director and co-writer Gerwig—whose unique vision was a driving pressure behind the film, in addition to her collaboration with star Margot Robbie—stated, “At this second, it’s all I’ve acquired. I really feel like that on the finish of each film, like I’ll by no means have one other thought and every little thing I’ve ever wished to do, I did. I wouldn’t need to squash anyone else’s dream however for me, at this second, I’m at completely zero.”

Head to the New York Times to learn the complete interview, which incorporates Gerwig’s response to the film’s success in addition to its doll-torching right-wing detractors. Barbie is in theaters now.

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