It’s been just about two years since Barbie dominated pop culture with her cinematic romp from Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie. Now, she’s back with a new film, but this latest adventure is going the animated route.
In a new report from Deadline, Barbie is set to receive a new adaptation from Illumination. Per the story, the film will be released by Universal Pictures, “which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Illumination.”
Illumination, Universal, and Mattel have declined to comment, and so there’s no word yet on the plot or creative teams attached.
Since her movie debut in 2001, Barbie has starred in a diverse range of animated films that have captivated audiences worldwide. With over 40 animated features and counting, the character has quite a rich story.
Barbie’s earliest films drew heavily from timeless fairy tales and ballet classics, including Barbie in the Nutcracker, Barbie as Rapunzel, and Barbie of Swan Lake. There have also been more modern takes, such as Barbie: Princess Charm School and Barbie: A Perfect Christmas.
Barbie achieved significant success in 2023 with its big-screen live-action adaptation. The Barbie film, released by Warner Bros., grossed over $1.44 billion worldwide. It went on to receive eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the award for Best Original Song.
