Margot Robbie’s Barbie sequel in limbo over ‘salary demands’… with one star allegedly seeking eight-figure payday to return
Production on a planned Barbie sequel starring Margot Robbie has reportedly stalled amid a pay dispute with Warner Bros, according to the New York Times. Robbie was expected to reprise her lead role, with Ryan Gosling returning alongside her, but negotiations have broken down, leaving the follow-up's future uncertain and highlighting tensions between the studio and its biggest stars over how to split the rewards of a franchise built on the original film's blockbuster success.
The New York Times reported that Warner Bros chief David Zaslav considered the studio's proposed deal for the two leads "too generous", though Warner Bros disputed this account, saying the actors were offered terms in May and have not yet responded with a counteroffer. Gosling is said to be seeking around $20 million to return, while Robbie, 36, and Gosling, 45, remain attached to the project in principle, with no resolution yet reached.
- Barbie sequel stalled over pay dispute between stars and Warner Bros
- Ryan Gosling reportedly wants around $20 million to return
- Warner Bros says stars haven't countered a May offer
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates for the star's position would argue that an actor who helped turn a project into a cultural and commercial phenomenon is entitled to negotiate compensation that reflects the value they generated, particularly given how brief and unpredictable acting careers can be and how much studios themselves profit from sequels built on established goodwill. From this view, seeking a substantial fee is simply exercising hard-won leverage in a business where studios routinely capture the greatest share of upside from a hit.
The case against
Those sympathetic to the studio's caution would argue that Warner Bros. has a responsibility to manage budgets prudently, since ballooning salary demands can make a sequel financially unviable, squeeze the resources available for the wider cast and crew, and ultimately raise ticket prices or reduce the films that get greenlit at all. On this view, resisting an eight-figure ask is a reasonable business judgement rather than a slight to the performer's talent or contribution.