While we might be a ways away from a proper Legally Blonde sequel, Reese Witherspoon’s (Wild) production company, Pacific Standard Films (Gone Girl), acquired the rights to the origin story of another blonde icon. According to The Tracking Board, the company will make a biopic surrounding Barbie doll creator Ruth Handler based on the biography Barbie and Ruth by Robin Gerber.
The film will tell the story of how Handler created the famous doll after seeing her daughter playing with paper dolls. Handler reportedly wanted to make a doll that better supported clothing, and she convinced her husband to manufacture her doll at his company, Mattel.
Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea will oversee the film for Pacific Standard. The company is currently seeking writer for the film with no casting or directing announcements made. Witherspoon originally wanted to star in one of the production company’s first projects, Gone Girl, but ended up giving the role to Rosamund Pike (HHHH). Pacific Standard is currently developing the adaptations of Opening Belle and Ashley’s War and also recently purchased the rights to the books Luckiest Girl Alive, Napkin Notes, and In A Dark, Dark Wood.
Sony is also working on Barbie film, though their project looks to be more along the lines of The Lego Movie as it will be following the Barbie character instead of its creation. Diablo Cody (Ricki and the Flash) is currently rewriting the script for Sony.
The Barbie brand has grown more controversial in the public eye over the years as a result of accusations that the figure promotes an unhealthy body image and outdated gender roles. A recent commercial for the line of dolls, however, earned the brand a wave of goodwill.
We’ll have more on the project as it develops.
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