Topic overview
In brief
- The original 'Barbie' film grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, making it a significant success.
- Negotiations for a sequel have stalled due to high salary demands from the principal cast.
- If a deal is not reached by December 2026, the film rights will revert to Mattel, requiring a complete redevelopment.
Summary
In the United States, the anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film 'Barbie,' which grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, remains stalled as of August 2026. The film, released in the summer of 2023, featured Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, achieving significant box office success with $636.2 million domestically and $810.9 million internationally. Despite the film's financial success, Warner Bros. Discovery has not moved forward with a sequel due to ongoing negotiations regarding the salaries of the principal cast and creative team.
Reports indicate that Ryan Gosling is seeking a $20 million salary to reprise his role as Ken, a figure that Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav considers excessive. The negotiations have been complicated further by the need to finalize agreements with Margot Robbie, director Greta Gerwig, and writer Noah Baumbach. The studio has made several offers, but the principal talent reportedly declined the last offer made in May 2026 and has yet to present a counteroffer.