Hollywood
Barbie 2 faces contract standoff as Warner Bros races to save sequel
Studio has until year-end to secure deals or risk losing sequel rights back to Mattel
MUMBAI: Barbie’s next big dream is stuck in a very real-world negotiation. Warner Bros. is racing to get Barbie 2 off the ground, but a contract standoff with the creative team behind the blockbuster could leave the sequel without a runway.
According to a report by Variety, Warner Bros. has until the end of 2026 to put the sequel into development. If the studio fails to finalise contracts with the key talent, the film rights could revert to Mattel, which owns the Barbie property.
The sticking point is money. Warner Bros. reportedly did not secure sequel options when developing the first film, partly because the studio did not anticipate the scale of its success. The 2023 movie went on to gross nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and earn multiple Oscar nominations, leaving the studio with little contractual leverage over its returning talent.
That has given director Greta Gerwig, writer Noah Baumbach and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling considerable negotiating power.
Warner Bros. has reportedly made six offers over the past three years, with the latest said to be the studio’s highest-ever offer for a sequel. The creative team, however, is holding out for better terms, including stronger backend participation if Barbie 2 repeats the original’s box-office success.
Gosling is reportedly seeking $20 million upfront to return as Ken, while the wider team is also seeking more lucrative backend arrangements.
The prolonged negotiations have reportedly fuelled frustration within Warner Bros., with some executives pointing towards CEO David Zaslav over the impasse. If the studio and talent cannot reach an agreement before the year-end deadline, the sequel could effectively lose its current path forward.
Gerwig’s position has also shifted. She was initially reluctant about returning for a sequel but has since warmed to the idea and reportedly has a concept in mind. She has not disclosed details, however, with the creative direction understood to remain tied to the contracts being finalised.
For Warner Bros., the stakes are straightforward: the original Barbie became a cultural and commercial phenomenon, but its unexpected scale also left the studio negotiating from the back foot.
Meanwhile, Gerwig is busy with her next project, an adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia, which is scheduled for an early 2027 release. For now, Barbie 2 remains less a done deal than a very expensive game of let’s-make-a-deal.
