Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Film Hits $1 Billion, No Deal in Place for Sequel
In a dazzling display of box office dominance, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has partied its way to an astounding $1 billion in ticket sales.
Just five other films have hit the billion dollar milestone since the pandemic and this marks a first ever for a solo female director.
The Hollywood Reporter claims that Gerwig has no deal in place to return for a sequel though.
“At this moment, it’s all I’ve got. I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I’ll never have another idea and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did. I wouldn’t want to squash anybody else’s dream but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero.”
Greta Gerwig
Gerwig has signed on to write and direct “at least” two Narnia films for Netflix. Here is everything we know about the project.
How will Barbie’s success affect Gerwig’s Narnia adaptations? Listen to what our podcasters have to say and discuss the implications in the NarniaWeb forum.
This is interesting news. At this moment, Gerwig is not only beloved by many serious film buffs and some lovers of independent arthouse-lite movies (for Ladybird especially) – she is also able to direct a movie that will make a ton of money.
I will make an observation that my friend pointed out, that the #barbenheimer phenomenon helped the box office of both movies. Some people saw them both on the same day, myself included. Apparently that hashtag was an organic grassroots internet fan-led thing, and not marketing from either WB or Universal. (Universal’s logo is at the start of both films.)
I suspect Gerwig will now be approached by several others studios or producers to make movies for them. I hope that she will not leave the Narnia project to work for another studio/project. We as Narnia fans are in such a good place now – that a well respected, skilled director is attached to adapt the books. Time will tell – and it’s an exciting time to be on Narniaweb!
Hopefully this indicates Narnia is up next! Fingers are crossed.
As to your comment, ‘Hopefully this indicates Narnia is up next!’ :
I guess the latest Talking Beasts episode helped me understand how the financial success of Barbie might help Gerwig’s Narnia project. It might mean Netflix gives her a bigger budget and more creative control. I don’t think that Barbie’s success indicates that her Narnia project will be made next necessarily.
I am actually a bit concerned that due to her success, Gerwig will be snatched up for other projects, before she has a chance to direct Narnia! 🙁
Don’t do that, Ms Gerwig! 🙂 A humble Narnia fan here, asking 🙂
The reason I’m hopeful Narnia is next is because she’s not locked into doing a Barbie sequel, not the film’s success.
Another reason to hope; I don’t think they’d have a deal in place with Gerwig for 8+ months to write & direct two films in a series without there being some level of commitment from her.
It’d be great to see The Magician’s Nephew from Gerwig next. Can’t wait!
Thanks for clarifying that. The fact a sequel has not been booked in after several weeks, is not surprising, but still a relief. I can’t see them really writing a script called “Ken” since the Barbie movie had a huge plot thread about Ken. But never say never.
I’m hoping for The Magician’s Nephew too. 🙂
I guess if the Barbie movie was good, why would there need to be a sequel? Sequels are kind of a touchy subject, for the most part, and a lot turn out to be dumb story line, with little to no resemblance to the original.
I would like MN to be done as a movie. It will sure be interesting on what Greta Gerwig will be doing with Narnia.