Turning toys and games into movies is no new deal. Dodgeball: An Underdog Story, Transformers, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra have come and gone, with movies based on Battleship, Stretch Armstrong, Clue, Candy Land, Ouiji, Monopoly, and others still on the way. Adding to the party, Universal Pictures has announced that they have plans to take the legendary Barbie and turn her into a live-action movie, as well.
As crazy as these announcements always sound, this decision is a no-brainer, really. As her maker Mattel states, the toy celebrity has 99% worldwide brand awareness. You don’t have to be Good Will Hunting to know that’s pretty strong. The question here really is: what do you actually DO for a Barbie movie? The current plan to get going on finding some writers to take it on, but producer Laurence Mark isn’t worried, explaining that Barbie has had over 120 jobs over her 50-year existence, which opens the door to countless choices.
Here’s what Universal Chairman Marc Schmuger had to say about the project:
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, but never before has she been brought to life in a motion picture. We’re grateful to Mattel for entrusting us with this extraordinary opportunity.
All of this sounds makes me think this is going to look a lot like Legally Blonde meets Sex in the City. This would be fitting, as Mark is producing a new James L. Brooks movie that stars Reese Witherspoon, so there’s that to keep in mind as this project develops.
[Source: Variety]
