'Where's the toilet paper?' Travis Kelce slammed for cordoning off property to keep trick-or-treaters out
Even though security claimed Travis Kelce wasn't at the cordoned-off home, children and parents thought otherwise as they saw lights in some rooms
2023-11-02 15:29
Barbie owners Mattel now want to make films about their other products Polly Pocket and UNO
There were always question marks over which lessons that executives from toy making giant Mattel would learn from the roaring success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Some said it could show the power of giving a top indie filmmaker like Gerwig the budget, time and resources to make a piece of memorable – and at times subversive – cinema which drew on people’s childhood memories. However, it looks like executives have already decided to pick option B: create an intellectual property-driven movie machine, and crank out a film about every toy they can think of to boost profits. Because that’s what people liked about Barbie, right? Mattel wants to create a cinematic universe similar to that of Marvel, following the immense success of its first feature film – and they already have more than a dozen projects in the works. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Products that are already in line to get the Barbie treatment include “Barney”, “Polly Pocket,” and “Hot Wheels”. “Barbie, as a brand, has many different iterations. The product lines of Barbie is a very broad brand. In addition to the main Barbie figure, she has family, she has a lot of elements around in her universe,” Mattel chief executive Ynon Kreiz told Variety. “It’s a very rich universe… It’s a very broad and very elastic brand, in terms of opportunities.” “At the outset, we’re not saying, ‘Okay, let’s think already about movie two and three.’ Let’s get the first one right and make that a success. And if you do that, opportunities open up very quickly, once you establish the first movie as a successful representation of a franchise on the big screen.” “Successful movies lend themselves to more movies,” the CEO added. “Our ambition is to create film franchises.” Robbie Brenner, the Oscar-nominated producer in charge of Mattel’s new film division, said the company was hopeful Barbie would become a box office success, so that it would open the door for franchises like “Masters of the Universe” and “Hot Wheels". “Everybody hopes that when you create a movie that there is going to be a franchise,” Brenner told Variety. “That’s the hope — that it goes on and on and it’s a gift that keeps giving. But, in this day and age, you just want to get the first one right.” Here are the films Mattel wants to make next: Barney Produced by Daniel Kaluuya, the purple dinosaur is going to be made into a live-action movie. Brenner said: I don’t know that it’s necessarily going to be darker. It’s just going to be unique — more of like [Spike Jonze films] Being John Malkovich or an Adaptation." “Any movie that has Barney is not certainly going to be straightforward,” Brenner adds. Referencing the Seth MacFarlane comedies, she quips: “We’re not making Ted. You know what I mean?” The upcoming film will apparently be about “identity and finding who you love and who feels alienated” and “what does it all mean?” Brenner says the film will “be more adult and have adult themes — and sort of be a little bit off-kilter”. Polly Pocket Starring Emily In Paris star Lily Collins, the Polly Pocket dolls will be made into a film directed by Lena Dunham. Brenner said there is already a “great” script, and that Dunham and Collins would be “an amazing collaboration. Lena is so collaborative and rolls up her sleeves and really likes to roll around in notes and listen. She’s incredible”. “Lily is so smart and so specific and so productorial. It’s just been an incredible collaboration, so we are thrilled about it. Hopefully, we’ll be making that at some point in the future.” Hot Wheels This one will be produced by JJ Abrams – because the world needs yet another film about toy racing cars, of course. Abrams has described the adaptation as “grounded and gritty” and said the film will have “real characters that you can relate to, that are three-dimensional, that have emotional journeys”. She added: “Look at any JJ Abrams movie. All of his movies have an incredible story and incredible characters. That was something that was important to him — to make a movie that’s not just going to be fun and exciting, but that has real emotion and real stakes to it.” And plenty more… There is a film about Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, starring Vin Diesel, which could be absolutely bizarre, while another doll franchise movie, American Girl, is “in the works”. Magic 8 Ball will “probably be a PG-13 thriller,” Brenner said, while a Masters Of The Universe film about the superhero He-Man could also become reality. Other projects include Thomas The Tank Engine (yep, that’s right folks) and, in a surprise turn, Uno. How corporate executives think a film about the playing card game will turn out is anybody’s guess. But it’s going to happen. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-27 17:29
'Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed' zooms in on the star's secret life
At first blush, "Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed" seems determined to find every movie phrase uttered by the actor -- famously closeted throughout his career as a leading man -- that could be construed to have a double meaning hinting at who he really was. Yet the HBO documentary ultimately provides a sobering window into that time, zooming in on Hudson's screen roles to coyly illustrate what he was experiencing off it.
2023-06-28 22:52
'Nobody does phony like you': Martin Short's epic putdown of Jimmy Fallon goes viral
Martin Short once called out Jimmy Fallon for his purported 'phonyness'
2023-09-12 15:21
Internet slams Ashton Kutcher's 'brownface' in old Popchips ad amid backlash for Danny Masterson letter
Ashton Kutcher's Popchips ad was reportedly taken down after sparking a controversy over the racist 'brownface'
2023-09-11 22:19
What to stream this week: '1989 (Taylor’s Version),' Emily Blunt and 'Five Nights at Freddy’s'
This week’s new entertainment releases include Taylor Swift's “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” a glossy look at opioid addiction with the movie “Pain Hustlers” starring Emily Blunt, Chris Evans and Andy Garcia, and the streaming horror flick “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
2023-10-23 12:22
Joe Rogan 'stunned' by Sean Strickland's 'unbelievable' performance against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293
Sean Strickland was declared the new middleweight champion of the UFC after all three judges gave the fight a final score of 49-46 in his favor
2023-09-11 20:26
Who is Alisa Keeton? ‘GMA’ star DeMarco Morgan impressed with author’s new book: ‘Going to read this on the plane’
Alisa Keeton's new book 'The Body Revelation' is an insightful dive into the world of faith and fitness
2023-07-29 17:52
Retiring Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright to say farewell by performing his own songs
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will perform on an entirely different stage before bidding farewell to St. Louis fans and life on the baseball diamond
2023-09-14 06:29
Why did Eric Decker say 'no' to Jessi James' vasectomy suggestion? Singer opens up about her unplanned pregnancy
'I wanted them to understand why mommy was gonna be slothy and tired and not as energized as I always am,' Jessi James said referring to her children
2023-08-29 06:16
Did Lizzo predict lawsuit against her? 'Rumors' lyrics resurface as singer is sued by her former dancers
The 35-year-old rapper has been accused of sexual harassment and creating an 'overtly sexual' work environment
2023-08-03 19:58
France media guide
An overview of the media in France, as well as links to broadcasters and newspapers.
2023-06-19 22:28
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