Margot Robbie’s ‘Barbie’ Taps Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach to Write Script; Gerwig Eyeing to Direct

Jul 15, 2019

Warner Bros. and Mattel’s feature film ‘Barbie’ adaptation now has Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach onboard to write the screenplay. Gerwig is also eyeing to direct.

Baumbach and Gerwig are a husband-wife duo that have together written IFC’s ‘Frances Ha’ and Fox Searchlight’s ‘Mistress America.’ Gerwing made her directorial debut with the Academy Award nominated ‘Lady Bird,’ which she also wrote. Next, Gerwing has her take on ‘Little Women,’ releasing December 25, 2019.

Margot Robbie (‘Suicide Squad,’ ‘I, Tonya’) is set to portray the live-action version of the iconic doll.

After a lengthy and tumultuous time in pre-production, with numerous setbacks, Barbie’s feature film is finally progressing again. Not one, but two actresses have dropped out of the role in the past, Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway. The film also made the shift from Sony Pictures to Warner Bros. Pictures. Finally, the film endured three different release date changes, originally set for June 2, 2017, then moving to June 29, 2018, then August 8, 2018, and a staggering push to May 8, 2020.

At this point, it is unlikely that May 2020 date will be used.