A year after Greta Gerwig’s Barbie burst into the world in a flurry of pink, the fan-favorite doll might return to the big screen, only this time without her director or Margot Robbie. While there haven’t been updates as to whether Barbie 2 will happen, Mattel and Illumination, most known for the Despicable Me franchise, have been in talks to make an animated Barbie movie. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie have not yet been confirmed to be involved with the project. Even so, between Illumination’s history of hits and the wave of Barbie-mania, this new movie could be even bigger than last summer’s box office success.

Barbie smashed the box office as a $1.4 billion hit, making it one of the most successful and memorable movies of 2023. Not only that, but it was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and took home Best Original Song for “What Was I Made for?” The possibilities for a new Barbie movie adventure are as vast as the doll’s wardrobe. With the excitement generated by Barbie and Illumination’s success record, a theatrical return to Barbie World could be an even bigger box-office success for the franchise.

Illumination’s Animated Barbie Movie Has Massive Box Office Potential

Illumination Knows How To Make A Box Office Hit

There’s no doubt that the world is ready for more Barbie and no studio is more equipped to deliver than Illumination. Their long history of hits include Despicable Me, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the 2010s, and Sing, which made $270 million in the United States and Canada. The studio has recently joined the trend of producing video game movies; The Super Mario Bros. Movie starring Chris Pratt and Jack Black is their current highest-grossing film. If Illumination wants another trend to tackle, beloved toy franchises would be the right way to go.

The Lego Movie, Toy Story, and Trolls have proven that the combination of imaginative storytelling, bold animation, and nostalgia is a draw for audiences. These movies, namely The Lego Movie and Trolls, have been known for their pop hits and star-studded voice casting, two things that Illumination has a knack for. Illumination would find the perfect actors to fill Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s shoes, as well as a soundtrack as memorable as Barbie‘s with Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” or Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night.” With these tricks up their sleeve, Illumination’s Barbie would be a massive office success.

Barbie’s Live-Action Success Is A Benefit For Illumination’s Animated Movie

Barbie Is Bigger Than Ever After The Margot Robbie Movie

Even before Barbie was released, advertising had made it a cultural phenomenon. Between pink fashion and the Barbie–Oppenheimer marketing crossover, interest in Barbie as a property accelerated. In its first week, it made $155 million and was the most streaming Oscar nominee last year. The success of live-action Barbie may have paved the road for new theatrical Barbie films, like Illumination’s animated movie. Not only would it attract the same audiences who saw the live-action version, but it would also excite animation lovers, and Illumination’s younger audiences, bringing in a host of new theatergoers.

Live-action Barbie has stirred up nostalgia for the Barbie animation of the past. Barbie has been featured in 43 animated movies, including YouTube’s Life in the Dreamhouse and Mattel’s collaboration with Mainframe Entertainment in the 2000s. The live-action briefly touched on Barbie’s other lives, showing her as a president and a doctor, as well as her associated friends such as Michael Cera’s Allen. However, it did not even begin to scratch the surface of Barbie’s adventures. If Illumination were to draw on previous animated movies and shows for inspiration, they would guarantee interest from doll lovers and fans of multiple generations.

Illumination’s Barbie Movie Doesn’t Need Margot Robbie Or Greta Gerwig To Succeed

Barbie Already Has An Impressive Track When It Comes To Animation

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

While Barbie has certainly become associated with Gerwig and Robbie, she is by no means attached to them. Gerwig’s Barbie took the famous doll to new heights. Not only did Barbie make it to the Oscars, she became the soundtrack of a summer and the voice for women across the globe. Yet Barbie has existed before Gerwig and Robbie and has more than proven herself to flourish after them. Since the movie, Mattel has reportedly been developing other toy-related movies such as Polly Pocket. In Mattel and Illumination’s capable hands, a theatrical Barbie animated feature will be sure to be a massive hit.

Illumination has a proven track when it comes to tackling major IPs, and It’s unlikely Barbie will be the exception if the animated movie happens.

As of yet, it seems that neither Gerwig nor Robbie will be involved in the Mattel Illumination collaboration. There has been no further comment. If they do the end up involved in the animated film, it will surely boost interest and the movie’s success. That said, there is enough trust in both companies for Illumination’s Barbie to fly on its own regardless of what happens in the live-action side of the franchise. Illumination has a proven track when it comes to tackling major IPs, and It’s unlikely Barbie will be the exception if the animated movie happens.