Negotiations over a sequel to Barbie have reportedly stalled, putting the return of director Greta Gerwig, writer Noah Baumbach and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling at risk. The dispute matters because the first film was a major critical and commercial success, and a new instalment without its original creative team could struggle to retain the same identity and appeal.

Warner Bros. and the talent must reach an agreement by December 2026 or the franchise rights will return to Mattel. The original Barbie earned about $1.5 billion worldwide; reports say proposed terms included profit participation, pay rises and Gosling’s $20 million request, though Warner Bros. says its May offer was rejected without a counteroffer. If rights revert, another studio could make a live-action sequel, but it could not use story elements from the 2023 film and would proceed without the original team.