Warner Bros.' plans to move ahead with a sequel to the blockbuster Barbie have reportedly hit an impasse, with negotiations over cast and creative deals delaying the project.
According to a report by The New York Times, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has reportedly been unwilling to approve higher salaries and profit-sharing agreements sought by the film's key talent, including stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The report adds that Gosling is seeking a pay raise to around $20 million for the sequel. A Warner Bros. spokesperson, however, has said there was never a deal framework that had been approved and later withdrawn.
Unlike many franchise films, the cast of Barbie had signed only a one-film agreement, as Warner Bros. was focused on securing Greta Gerwig to direct the 2023 film. Reportedly, Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach have an idea for a sequel but are waiting for negotiations to conclude before presenting it to the studio.
Warner Bros. co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca acknowledged that discussions are ongoing. "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," they said in a statement.
The studio is reportedly racing against a December deadline, after which the rights could revert to Mattel if a new film is not put into development. Released in 2023, Barbie became a global phenomenon, grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide and earning eight Academy Award nominations. Although sequel speculation began almost immediately after its success, Robbie had earlier downplayed the idea, telling, "I don't think it was designed to be a trilogy," while adding that everyone involved would only return if they found a story worth telling.
