Will there be a Barbie 2? Latest news on potential Barbie cinematic universe
Greta Gerwig's new film has opened to a wave of positive reviews – but will it get a sequel?
Greta Gerwig's Barbie has achieved a historic box office run, earning more than $1 billion in worldwide sales.
Barbie has also proved to be a critical hit, receiving a four-star verdict from us at RadioTimes.com, and hooking in fans across the globe.
It's hardly surprising then, that rumours are rife about a potential sequel, or a Ken-focused spin-off.
While neither Mattel nor Discovery are yet to confirm any official plans for a sequel, they are yet to rule it out.
So, without further ado, read on for everything we know so far about the possibility of further films.
Will there be a Barbie 2?
As yet, it appears that there are no official plans for a sequel – but Gerwig and the cast haven't ruled one out.
Gerwig has previously teased there is potential for a Barbie Cinematic Universe, explaining during an interview with Variety in November 2022 that "it would certainly be exciting".
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While promoting the first film, Margot Robbie explained that it "could go a million different directions" from where it ends up, but stressed that the film was not necessarily made with sequels in mind.
"I think you fall into a bit of a trap if you try and set up a first movie whilst also planning for sequels," she told Time.
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But one person who certainly seems keen on the idea of further films is Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz – who in the same Time article linked above was quoted as saying that "more Barbie movies" are hoped for.
In fact, Mattel currently has plans for a staggering 45 films based on its products at various stages of development – including a JJ Abrams-produced Hot Wheels movie and others based on Polly Pocket, Uno, and even the Magic 8 Ball.
When you take those ambitions into consideration – coupled with the projections that Barbie will be a huge hit – it seems more likely than not that we will indeed see a sequel somewhere down the line.
When we hear anything more concrete we'll post it here, so keep checking back for all the latest updates.
Will there be a Ken spin-off?
One rumour that has been doing the rounds recently is that Ken will be getting his own spin-off after a report from insider Daniel Richtman claimed a project was currently in development at Warner Bros Discovery.
The report says the spin-off film is in its early stages, and it's unknown who would be writing, directing, or working on the project if it proves to be true – with no confirmation as yet from Warner Bros themselves.
For now, it's probably best we treat these rumours with a pinch of salt – but should anything become official we'll keep you updated.
Barbie is now showing in UK cinemas. Visit our Film hub for more news and features or find something to watch tonight with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.