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Barbie sequel stalls as Warner Bros faces deal deadline
Published 09:40 1 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 10:10 1 Aug 2026 BST
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It looks like the money isn't Kenough
The Barbie sequel has hit a roadblock on its way back to Barbieland, with Warner Bros facing a December deadline to strike a deal with its key talent or risk losing the rights. The studio must reach agreements with stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as well as director and co-writer Greta Gerwig, before the rights revert to Mattel, according to a New York Times report cited by The Hollywood Reporter.
Warner Bros has reportedly been negotiating with the principal talent for months, offering them a share of the profits if the film hits certain box office milestones. The 2023 original was a cultural and commercial phenomenon, making a follow-up one of Hollywood's most coveted projects.
Why the Barbie sequel has stalled
The New York Times reported that Warner Bros Discovery chief executive David Zaslav declined to approve the proposed deal because he believed it was "too generous". A Warner Bros spokesperson disputed that account, saying talent representatives had declined an offer made in May and had not yet submitted a counteroffer. Like other long-gestating movie sequels, the follow-up now hangs on the fine print of a contract.
With the clock ticking towards December, the standoff pits star salaries against studio caution. If no agreement is reached, the rights could return to Mattel, throwing the future of the Barbie sequel into fresh doubt.
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