The long-gestating big screen Barbie movie has made an unexpected but exciting announcement. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have been tapped to co-write the script at Warner Bros. The duo have worked together numerous times on films such as Frances Ha and Mistress America. Gerwig is also being eyed to direct the film, which already has Margot Robbie confirmed for the titular role.
This is pleasantly surprising news. Gerwig and Baumbach always work well together, but usually on smaller indie films. They aren’t the first names you immediately think of when discussing Barbie, but it certainly makes the film a far more interesting proposition.
It’ll also be interesting to see if Gerwig directs. She’s coming off the critical smash hit Lady Bird, and is now putting the finishing touches on her star-studded Little Women film, due out late this year. Barbie doesn’t ostensibly seem like the kind of thing she’d want to make, but if she does, it will likely be a lot more subversive and interesting than WB may have initially hoped for.
Baumbach’s last film was Netflix’s The Meyerowitz Stories. He has an untitled project with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in the works.
The Barbie film has been through ups and downs over the last few years. Robbie is the third actress to be cast in the lead role; Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway were attached to star at various points. Those were back when Sony held the rights. Robbie came on board when Warner Bros. signed a deal with Mattel Films in January.
It’s always been hard to know what any Barbie movie would look like. This news only makes that picture even fuzzier, but at the same time, very intriguing.
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