©Courtesy of Warner Brothers

In July, news emerged that Warner Bros. was getting ready for serious talks on a “Barbie” sequel. The merger between Paramount and Warners, expected to be concluded this week, should see some progress in the talks.

The 2023 film directed by Greta Gerwig debuted and earned over $1.5 billion worldwide, receiving critical acclaim, an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, and gaining significant cultural prominence.

Famously, Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling did not have agreements stipulating their participation in a sequel within their contracts. Extraordinarily expensive new deals require new negotiations. Gerwig mentioned in 2024 that she had no new story ideas for a potential sequel

The announcement came via The New York Times in July regarding Warner Bros. The deal requires the trio to be in place by December. In this case, the property rights would return to Mattel, meaning they would have to do everything from scratch.

Gerwig and her writing partner/husband Noah Baumbach are said to have a tale they wish to tell for the sequel and are prepared to begin writing it – however, they are not disclosing these ideas to Warner Bros. I won’t pick up a pen until the deal is finalized. What is holding up the deal? The report stated that David Zaslav, CEO of Warner, would not endorse the proposal due to the high costs involved. Following the merger, Zaslav has stepped down, and David Ellison now leads the organization.

Variety notes that “actions are underway to finalize” the sequel, spurred by Ellison’s hiring of former Mattel CEO Ynon Kriz to co-lead the newly combined company. According to their source, ‘Barbie 2’ is definitely happening.

Paramount’s film leaders Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, now in charge of movies at both Paramount and Warner Bros., are said to have already contacted Margot Robbie, and her LuckyChap partners made inquiries well before the merger concludes.