Sony is developing a live-action film starring Mattel’s Barbie, set to start filming later this year, with the potential of the comedy becoming a franchise.
The script is written by Rio 2 writer Jenny Bicks and Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will produce. Marc Resteghini will executive produce with Julia Pistor.
In a statement, Parkes and MacDonald said, “While it’s an overused word, Barbie truly is a legend, a cultural symbol whose career choices have been as unlimited as her wardrobe. She is about empowerment, but never at the expense of fun. Our hope is to capture all of these aspects of Barbie in a modern take of the character that can appeal to moviegoers of all ages,” Variety reports.
This isn’t the first time Barbie has been planned to turn into a feature film. Back in 2009 Universal was in talks to create the film, with Laurence Mark producing.
Tim Kilpin, EVP Global Brands for Mattel, described the film as bringing Barbie’s “playful personality to life for generations of fans.”