Sony Pictures and Mattel are collaborating on a new live-action venture that will bring the popular
Barbie toyline to the big screen. According to
Deadline, Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal supervised the deal, and production will begin be the end of this year. Jenny Bick, who was a writer on HBO's
Sex and the City and is a showrunner for Showtime's
The Big C, has been hired to write the screenplay.
Barbie has been part of merchandise packages that span over 150 careers and Bicks and Parkes and MacDonald won the rights from Mattel when they plugged into that with their pitch for a contemporary tale. It allows the character Barbie to use her personal and professional skills to step into the lives of others and improve them, almost like a modern day Mary Poppins. That storyline allows for the discovery of a young actress to play the title character, and young cast to play Ken and Barbie’s best friend, putting stars around them that can change in subsequent movies.