By Mattel has reportedly been in touch with “Despicable Me” crestors Illumination Entertainment over a potential animated “Barbie” movie.
Puck broke the news, saying Mattel has met with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri about the film which hopes to launch a potential major animated franchise. It’s not clear how far along the talks are.
Mattel reportedly still holds the animation rights and the new report indicates live-action “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and actress Margot Robbie are aware of the talks and “aren’t thrilled” by them.
The report comes as “Despicable Me 4” director Chris Renaud spoke with Film Hounds and asked if Illumination intended to explore live-action adaptations of the “Minions” or “Despicable Me” universe in the way Disney has done with their films. Renaud is against the idea:
“God, I hope not. That’s my answer. I mean if there were conversations like that, I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated and it allows us to get away with what we get away with.
Like locking a minion in the vending machine, or you know, blowing up Gru when he attacks Vector. These are really cartoon ideas, like what would have been in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
I think it just becomes something completely different if you do a live-action version. For me personally, not very appealing. But again, who knows what can happen but that’s my personal feeling about it.”
Illumination has “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” on the way for 2026 and a third “Minions” for 2027.
The post “Barbie” Trying & “Minions” Staying Animated appeared first on Dark Horizons.
