‘Barbie’ Sequel Stalls as David Zaslav Won’t Approve Bigger Salaries for Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie

Key Points:

• Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is hesitant to offer Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling lucrative profit participation deals for a "Barbie" sequel, with Gosling reportedly seeking $20 million for his role.
• The original "Barbie" stars signed only one-movie deals, and Warner Bros. must finalize contracts before the rights revert to Mattel in December, or Mattel could redevelop the franchise with new talent.
• Director Greta Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach have a concept for the sequel but will not share it until contract negotiations conclude; Warner Bros. has made multiple offers, all declined so far.
• The blockbuster success of "Barbie" and the potential for a sequel parallels other lucrative franchise negotiations like Sony and Marvel’s "Spider-Man," underscoring the financial stakes for all parties.
• Production on the sequel would be delayed regardless, as Robbie, Gosling, and Gerwig have other major projects lined up through 2027 and 2028, while Warner Bros. maintains a strong partnership with Mattel on related projects.