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 a giant hit, sequel discuss occurs; sometimes, even earlier than the film’s a giant hit, these in cost enable 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 in case you try 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 large display screen … Profitable motion pictures lend themselves to extra motion pictures. Our ambition is to create movie franchises.”
We already know that Mattel has a number of different toy traces 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 possibly can’t actually blame its executives for hoping to recapture extra Barbie magic. “Barbie, as a model, has many various iterations … in addition to the principle Barbie determine, she has household, she has lots of parts round in her universe,” Kreiz instructed the commerce.
The Barbie film explored a few of that, however there are definitely extra tales in that universe that may very well be instructed. Or are there? Chatting with the New York Occasions, director and co-writer Gerwig—whose unique vision was a driving power 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 concept and the whole lot I’ve ever wished to do, I did. I wouldn’t wish 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.
Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to count on the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot that you must find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.
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