Simply when all that pre-release Barbie buzz was beginning to make sizzling pink really feel monotonous, the film opened—and delivered that sought-after mix of vital reward, audiences of each lovers and haters (which introduced much more buzz), and large field workplace success. Mattel executives may not have fairly understood director Greta Gerwig’s intention forward of time, however they 100% perceive greenback indicators.
Spoilers of the Week | June seventeenth
Inevitably, when a film’s a giant hit, sequel discuss occurs; typically, even earlier than the film’s a giant hit, these in cost permit themselves to dream massive. Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz places it plainly, chatting with Selection: “On the outset, we’re not saying, ‘Okay, let’s assume already about film two and three.’ Let’s get the primary one proper and make {that a} success. And when you do this, alternatives open up in a short time, as soon as you identify the primary film as a profitable illustration of a franchise on the large display … Profitable films lend themselves to extra films. Our ambition is to create movie franchises.”
We already know that Mattel has a number of different toy strains in thoughts for future diversifications (right here’s a latest listing of 14, together with Barney and the Magic 8 Ball, which are within the queue), however you possibly can’t actually blame its executives for hoping to recapture extra Barbie magic. “Barbie, as a model, has many alternative iterations … along with the principle Barbie determine, she has household, she has a variety of parts round in her universe,” Kreiz advised the commerce.
The Barbie film explored a few of that, however there are definitely extra tales in that universe that might be advised. Or are there? Talking to the New York Occasions, director and co-writer Gerwig—whose distinctive imaginative and prescient was a driving drive behind the film, in addition to her collaboration with star Margot Robbie—stated, “At this second, it’s all I’ve received. I really feel like that on the finish of each film, like I’ll by no means have one other thought and every little thing I’ve ever needed to do, I did. I wouldn’t need to squash anyone else’s dream however for me, at this second, I’m at completely zero.”
Head to the New York Occasions to learn the total 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.
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