Barbie is 'dead'? Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Warner Bros. in bizarre money fight over the $1.4 billion Hollywood sensation's future

Barbie 2 sequel in trouble? Warner Bros. and the creative team behind the $1.4 billion blockbuster are reportedly locked in stalled negotiations, putting the future of a potential sequel in doubt.

The original Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, became Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing movie ever after earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide. But three years after its release, a follow-up is facing a major roadblock over compensation and deal terms, accoring to Variety.

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Warner Bros. is said to have made more than six offers to Gerwig, Robbie, Gosling and co-writer Noah Baumbach over the past three years, with all of them rejected. The studio’s latest offer, made in late spring, is described by a studio source as the biggest Warner Bros. has ever made to a filmmaking team and its stars, the report added,

The negotiations involve Gerwig and Baumbach as writers, Gerwig as director, Robbie as star and producer, and Gosling reprising his role as Ken. Sources told Variety that the team is seeking higher upfront fees and significantly improved backend compensation.

Gosling is reportedly seeking $20 million to return as Ken, while Robbie was projected to an estimated $50 million in salary and backend compensation from the first movie, according to the report. Gerwig also earned tens of millions from the original film.

However, the creative team is reportedly not demanding first-dollar gross participation, meaning they would not receive box-office payments before Warner Bros. recoups its investment.

The stalled negotiations have become particularly urgent because Warner Bros. has roughly four months to put a new Barbie movie into active development before the rights to the iconic Mattel doll revert to the toy company, Variety reported.

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Gerwig and Baumbach do have an idea for a sequel, according to two sources cited by Variety, but they have not shared details publicly and are unwilling to move forward without new agreements.

The situation is also unusual because the original contracts reportedly did not include obligations for a sequel. The initial deals were negotiated under a previous Warner Bros. regime, before Barbie became a global phenomenon.

The sequel dispute also creates uncertainty for Mattel, which is looking to build on the success of its film and expand Barbie’s identity as a fashion and lifestyle brand. A sequel could provide another major boost for the company.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has reportedly taken a firm position on the compensation demands.

The future of Barbie 2 could ultimately depend on the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery takeover by Paramount. Variety reported that David Ellison could potentially revive the project and bring Gerwig and the rest of the creative team back if his bid for the company succeeds.