Warner Bros. faces impasse over 'Barbie' sequel negotiations

Negotiations for a 'Barbie' sequel have reached a standstill between Warner Bros. and the original creative team, including director Greta Gerwig, co-writer Noah Baumbach, and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The impasse centers on compensation, with the creative team reportedly seeking higher upfront fees and increased back-end profit participation.

Reports indicate that Ryan Gosling is seeking approximately $20 million to reprise his role as Ken, while Margot Robbie, who earned over $50 million from the first film, is also seeking improved terms. While Warner Bros. has reportedly made more than six offers—one described as “life-changing money”—the studio, led by CEO David Zaslav, has reportedly resisted the high financial demands.

A critical deadline looms in December; if Warner Bros. fails to move the sequel into active development by then, the film rights will revert to Mattel. Should this happen, the studio would lose access to the specific universe and characters established by Gerwig and Baumbach, potentially necessitating a complete franchise reboot.