While He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has been moved over to Sony’s plate, Universal has signed a deal with Mattel to create a live-action film version of the Barbie toy line. While this may seem silly to some, this is one of the biggest toy products that a studio could choose to grab, certainly on the same level as G.I. Joe.
The only question is, how will producer Laurence Mark (Julie & Julia, Dreamgirls) craft a film with a coherent story from a doll? I imagine that the film will deal in one way or another with Barbie’s mad dash through a variety of professions, allowing her to be clad in some of her most famous outfits.
Two of the men responsible for Barbie’s image in media, general manager Richard Dickson and VP of entertainment (from Mattel) Rob Hudnut will be overseeing the project and protecting the likeness of the character.
No release date has been set, but Universal Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger had this to say about Universal’s acquisition of the character:
“Barbie is the most famous doll in history, a unique cultural icon in the world of brands. So many representations of Barbie frequent pop culture. We’re grateful to Mattel for entrusting us with this extraordinary opportunity.”
More details on Barbie as the film develops.
I would love to submit a picture to show anyone at Universal how much my daughter looks like Barbie. She is an exact duplicate. Her hair, eyes, body and a great personality. If you need a real female to represent your movie get in touch with me.