The success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has opened doors for potential franchises. The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling starrer movie is enjoying its heyday with an astonishing $470 million earning worldwide.
As Barbie’s box office towered to an astounding height, Barbie Producer has confirmed Mattel Cinematic Universe with several slated projects in it. However, there will not be another Ted that starred Mark Wahlberg despite its glorious box office success.
Also read: Barbie Review – Life is Plastic, It’s FANTASTIC
The Beginning of Mattel Cinematic Universe
Mattel— a famous multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company— already had its eyes on expanding its presence in the cinematic landscape after Ynon Kreiz’s takeover as CEO of the company. Following the huge success of Barbie, the company has cleared several projects announcing the beginning of the Mattel Cinematic Universe.
Currently, the newly formed Universe has confirmed 14 new projects based on the toys the company produced. The company has already partnered with several major studios for the confirmed movies which include Barney, Polly Pocket, Thomas and Friends, and American Girl. Currently, Barbie producer Robbie Brenner is developing all Mattel film projects. She is hopeful of Barbie’s grand success and the later movies from the universe.
“Everybody hopes that when you create a movie that there is going to be a franchise. That’s the hope — that it goes on and on and it’s a gift that keeps giving. But, in this day and age, you just want to get the first one right,” Brenner told Variety.
Nope, Get Out and MCU star Daniel Kaluuya is set to produce Barney from the Universe. Writer/Director Lena Dunham’s Lily Collins starrer Polly Pocket is set to roll out under the banner of MGM. Warner Brothers’ Hot Wheels, Universal Studio’s Vin Diesel starrer Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Tom Hanks’ Major Matt Mason, and several other projects are lined up.
Barbie Sequel, Fate of Mark Wahlberg’s Ted
There is room for a Barbie sequel or maybe more, at least, Warner Bros. would want that as the Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling starrer movie has been dominating the box office since its release on 21 July 2023. “Barbie, as a brand, has many different iterations,” Mattel’s Kreiz told Variety. “The product lines of Barbie is a very broad brand. In addition to the main Barbie figure, she has family, she has a lot of elements around in her universe,” he continued adding, “It’s a very rich universe… It’s a very broad and very elastic brand, in terms of opportunities.”
“At the outset, we’re not saying, ‘Okay, let’s think already about movie two and three.’ Let’s get the first one right and make that a success. And if you do that, opportunities open up very quickly, once you establish the first movie as a successful representation of a franchise on the big screen. Successful movies lend themselves to more movies,” the CEO added. “Our ambition is to create film franchises.”
Of course, Barbie has been a catalyst for the birth of the new Universe based on the characters from the famous toy manufacturing company. The company may bring out more films to the universe after the 14 slates. However, referring to Seth MacFarlane’s Mark Wahlberg starrer comedy Ted, Barney confirmed that they are not making another Ted movie.
Barbie is currently running in the theaters.
Source: Variety.
