What is the story about?
Barbie 2 is back in the headlines as David Ellison's Skydance is set to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially reviving one of Hollywood's most
anticipated sequel projects. The new Skydance film leadership has reportedly already begun contacting Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap partners in an effort to build continuity across Warner Bros.' film operations. The move comes after Barbie 2 stalled due to negotiations involving Robbie, Ryan Gosling and director Greta Gerwig. The Paramount-Warner Bros. deal is expected to close by October 6, and the proposed sequel is shaping up to be one of the biggest projects on the new regime's radar.
Barbie 2 gets new momentum at Skydance
The biggest film development around the impending Skydance takeover is the renewed push for Barbie 2. Variety reports that Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who are expected to run the film side of the combined company, have been calling up key Warner Bros. talent, including Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap production partners. Sources close to the situation said discussions are already underway to lock in a sequel to Greta Gerwig's 2023 blockbuster.
One source in the report was even quoted as saying, "There's no way 'Barbie 2' doesn’t happen. However, there is no official green light or release date at this time."
It follows reports of a stalled sequel earlier this year.
Why did Barbie 2 stall?
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's Barbie was a global phenomenon when it was released in 2023. The film grossed nearly $1.4 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film worldwide. Success notwithstanding, plans for a sequel ran into trouble with contracts and pay. According to previous reports, Warner Bros. had until December 2025 been negotiating deals with Gerwig, Robbie and Gosling before the rights to some elements related to the movie reverted back to Mattel.
The proposed sequel then seemed in serious jeopardy, negotiations supposedly having stalled. Now, the looming change in studio leadership has brought the project back into the limelight.
Ynon Kreiz could be key to Barbie 2
Another big factor is Ynon Kreiz, the former Mattel CEO who has been named co-CEO of the combined Skydance company with David Ellison. Since Kreiz was an executive at Mattel during the development and release of Barbie, his appointment has special relevance to the franchise. When the merger closes, he will be joining Skydance.
His new position puts one of the key executives behind Mattel's entry into entertainment at the helm of the studio that owns Barbie's film future. That link could give the franchise extra momentum, but the original creative team is yet to have their contracts sorted out.
Will Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling return?
The big question for Barbie 2 remains whether the original cast and filmmaker will return. Margot Robbie was Barbie in the first movie, and Ryan Gosling was Ken. It was directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. Reports earlier suggested talks with Robbie, Gosling and Gerwig had stalled. The fact that the new Skydance leadership is reaching out to Robbie and LuckyChap is a sign the studio wants to re-open talks, but there's been no official word yet that the original team of key creatives is on board for the sequel.
What other films are coming from the Warner Bros. slate?
The renewed interest in Barbie 2 comes as Warner Bros. enters a major transition while maintaining a busy theatrical pipeline. Among the upcoming titles is the next chapter in Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi franchise, Dune: Part Three. The film is set for release in December 2026 and will continue the story after Dune: Part Two. The studio also has Clayface, which is part of the DC Studios slate, as well as the upcoming animated The Cat in the Hat. Other titles on the wider Warner Bros. schedule include Practical Magic 2 and The Great Beyond.
Meanwhile, the larger Skydance operation has its own big projects, including Matchbox: The Movie, based on the toy brand from Mattel. The film is being produced by Skydance and Apple Studios and is due out in October 2026.
More on Skydance-Warner Bros. merger
The new company will be called Skydance, with Warner Bros. and Paramount remaining as key studio brands in the bigger organisation. Ynon Kreiz will be the company's co-CEO, with David Ellison as its operating head. Goldberg and Greenstein are expected to run film operations, with Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures under the same larger leadership structure.
