Warner Bros. Discovery risks losing the opportunity to make Barbie 2 with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and director Greta Gerwig as negotiations over their compensation remain stalled.
According to Variety, The New York Times reports that WBD CEO David Zaslav has refused to approve the larger pay packages being sought by the principal talent. The dispute comes despite the original Barbie earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros.’ history.
Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie (2023), Warner Bros. Pictures
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None of the key participants were contractually obligated to return for a sequel, suggesting that the studio never expected Barbie to become a potential franchise. That assumption now places the creative talent in an unusually powerful position. Warner Bros. must negotiate entirely new deals with Robbie, Gosling, and Gerwig before moving forward.
Ryan Gosling Seeks a Significant Raise
Although long recognized as an A-list actor, Gosling’s profile has only risen since the success of Barbie. This year’s Project Hail Mary became one of the surprise hits of 2026. The actor is also set to lead Star Wars and Marvel projects in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Gosling is reportedly seeking $20 million to reprise his Oscar-nominated role as Ken. Discussions have also included potential box office bonuses for Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie if Barbie 2 reaches certain financial benchmarks.
Zaslav reportedly considered the proposed terms too generous and declined to approve them. However, a Warner Bros. representative disputed that characterization, claiming that the talent rejected a substantial offer in May and has yet to submit a counteroffer.
Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary – Amazon MGM Studios
“We have a rights deal with Mattel in place and have made a series of big offers to try and finalize deals to make the next Barbie film,” Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach an agreement thus far.”
Barbie Was Never Intended to Launch a Franchise
The development represents a significant change from the uncertainty that followed the first film. Robbie previously said that Barbie was conceived as a complete story rather than the beginning of a franchise.
“I think we put everything into this one,” Robbie said in 2023. “We didn’t build it to be a trilogy or something. It was like [director] Greta [Gerwig] put everything into this movie. So I can’t imagine what would be next.”
Director Greta Gerwig at the Barbie movie reception – Wikimedia Commons
Its enormous commercial success understandably encouraged Warner Bros. and Mattel to reconsider. The film earned approximately $636 million domestically and another $810 million internationally while receiving eight Academy Award nominations. In light of that performance, Robbie and Gosling returning for Barbie 2 began to seem like a foregone conclusion.
However, those achievements have also given the film’s stars and filmmakers considerable negotiating leverage. With Warner Bros. facing a firm deadline, they may be able to afford to run out the clock.
Warner Bros. Faces a December Deadline
The studio cannot allow negotiations to continue indefinitely. Warner Bros. reportedly has until December to finalize agreements with Robbie, Gosling, and Gerwig. If it fails, the sequel rights will revert to Mattel.
Mattel could then pursue another adaptation with a different studio. However, it would reportedly be unable to retain the original film’s cast, filmmakers, or story elements.
Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie (2023), Warner Bros. Pictures
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Gerwig and her husband and writing partner, Noah Baumbach, are said to have developed an idea for the sequel. Nevertheless, they are reportedly unwilling to reveal the concept or begin writing until Gerwig’s new contract is finalized.
Although the studio still has several months to reach an agreement, Barbie 2 is far from guaranteed. Unless one side compromises before December, Robbie’s earlier prediction that the film would remain a standalone story may ultimately prove correct.
Do you think Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will return for Barbie 2? Sound off and let us know!
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