“It’s really a play for adults”: Barbie Success Officially Confirms ‘Mattel Cinematic Universe’ With Marvel Star Attached to ‘A-24 Type’ Barney Movie After $470M Box-Office Haul
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is challenging the Hollywood scene in more ways than one with its colorful Barbie Land, glamorous cast, and refreshing plot.
The Little Woman director, who wrote Barbie’s screenplay alongside Noah Baumbach, was initially uncertain if her script would be transformed into a movie by Warner Bros. due to its bold dialogues – some men might even consider it offensive due to the number of jokes at their expense.
However, early reactions suggest most of the viewers came out of the theaters laughing at the digs at patriarchy rather than being irked by the same lines. Similarly, the movie is also raising eyebrows with its financial performance, having garnered $470M globally. But that’s not it.
Barbie‘s Success Could End up Shaking MCU and DCU’s Dominance
Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie is set to inspire – and give life to – an array of toy-inspired live-action movies, helping Mattel create a Mattel Cinematic Universe in the mold of Marvel and DC Universes.
Things are far more advanced than one might have expected, as it’s understood as many as 14 Mattel properties are in active development and being prepared to hit the theaters in the upcoming years. And we do have a few details on one of these projects: Barney.
Daniel Kaluuya, who plays the role of W’Kabi in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther franchise, has already been lured in to be a part of the project focused on the lovable purple dinosaur, who featured in Barney & Friends family show in the early 90s.
But the movie is unlikely to cater to the families, with Mattel Films executive Kevin McKeon telling The New Yorker that the plot will be overseen by Charlie Kaufmann and Spike Jonze, the filmmakers known for their offbeat films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and I’m Thinking of Ending Things. McKeon explained:
“We’re leaning into the Millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids. It’s really a play for adults. Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something, growing up with Barney—just the level of disenchantment within the generation.”
He went on to add that the Kaluuya-starrer will be similar to an “A24-type” movie. A24 is an independent entertainment company that has created a sort of cult following amongst cinephiles with flicks like Lady Bird and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Read more: Margot Robbie’s Barbie Proves Hollywood Wrong as the Movie Beats Across The Spider-Verse Opening Day
Barbie Makers to Follow A24’s Path for Their Upcoming Project
A24 has not only dominated Oscars in recent years (attracting 45 Academy Award nominations) but they’ve also impressed fans enough to motivate them into rocking their merchandise.
As such, there’s merit in Mattel’s idea to try to bring something similar to the table from their own universe.
But they must also understand what made Barbie a hit and helped Gerwig’s movie outshine Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. One of the big reasons behind Independent Cinemas across Scotland opting to show Barbie over Oppenheimer has been the family-oriented theme of the latter.
The same goes for the purple dinosaur Barney, who still leaves a smile on the faces of 40-year-olds who followed Barney & Friends as kids. It’ll be interesting to see what the movie develops into, down the road.
Source: Variety
