‘Barbie 2’ in Jeopardy as Margot Robbie & Crew Reject “Life-Changing Money”

Barbie was a cultural phenomenon when it was released in the summer of 2023. Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the movie went on to gross $1.447 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the highest-grossing movie in the history of Warner Bros., not adjusted for inflation. The movie also received rave reviews and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, ultimately winning Best Original Song. In any other scenario, a studio would move quickly to green light a sequel. However, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav doesn’t seem to think Gerwig, Robbie, Gosling, and co-writer Noah Baumbach are worth the money.

In a new Variety report, the Barbie sequel is facing a hurdle in the form of pay disputes. Warner Bros. has reportedly made six offers to the creative team behind Barbie, with the most recent, made in spring 2026, being the biggest the studio has ever offered a film director and stars. One source describes it as “life-changing money,” while another party notes that the package price for all four combined might be historic; the individual compensation for Gerwig, Robbie, Gosling, and Baumbach is not.

Ryan Gosling's Ken and Margot Robbie's titular doll in Barbie

Robbie, Gosling, and Gerwig are reportedly looking for bumps in upfront fees and generous increases in back-end participation. Variety is reporting that the Barbie creative team is not asking for first-dollar gross, which is payment from the box office before the studio recoups any money. Yet it appears to be too much for David Zaslav, who reportedly believes the team is asking for too much money.

Warner Bros. has four months to secure a Barbie sequel deal, or the rights will revert to Mattel. If Mattel gets the rights back, they cannot use any material from Gerwig’s Barbie, which would mean the franchise would get a hard reboot. Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach, who are reportedly seeking only a pay increase and not participation points, have an idea for Barbie 2 in place but are not sharing any details.

If Warner Bros. cannot strike a deal for a Barbie sequel, it will be a huge loss for the studio, which is in the midst of a potential acquisition by Paramount. However, the creative team behind Barbie will do fine without the sequel. Greta Gerwig is currently directing Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew for Netflix and will be the streamer’s first theatrically wide-release film. Margot Robbie is set to lead the Ocean’s 11 prequel. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling is set to lead Star Wars: Starfighter and will now play Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is clear Warner Bros. needs Barbie 2 more than Gerwig, Robbie, and Gosling do.