Barbie was such a blockbuster hit for Warner Bros. that instantly after its release, demand for a sequel rose up.
However, the Mattel doll’s creator, Greta Gerwig, at the time said she had no idea for a second instalment.
“At this moment, it’s all I’ve got,” she told the New York Times, adding, “I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I’ll never have another idea and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did.”
“I wouldn’t want to squash anybody else’s dream, but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero.”
However, now she apparantly got an idea for a sequel but hit a snag at the studio.
According to the NYT, both parties have dug their heels in on negotiations as several matters came into discussion, including profit-sharing bonuses if the sequel becomes a hit.
But David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly against the proposed package to Gerwig and her team, allegedly describing it as “too generous”.
The network, however, contradicted the characterisation of the report.
In a statement, co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca said, “We have a rights deal with Mattel in place and have made a series of big offers to try and finalise deals to make the next Barbie film. Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach an agreement thus far.”
Despite the differences, however, there is also an element of urgency.
If Warner Bros. and Gerwig cannot strike a deal until December, the sequel rights reportedly will move back to the Mattel company.
