The world of fashion dolls is about to heat up as Sindy, the beloved British doll, is gearing up for her Hollywood moment. A live-action musical film featuring Sindy is officially in development, promising to offer stiff competition to Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking Barbie.
The 2023 blockbuster Barbie shattered expectations, becoming a global cultural phenomenon with a $1.4 billion box office haul and widespread critical acclaim. Now, producers are hoping Sindy can follow in those glittery footsteps—and perhaps even dance past them.
A Musical Fairy Tale for the Modern Age
The Sindy feature is being produced by A2R2, which is reportedly searching for a “visionary female director” to lead the project—a move that mirrors Warner Bros.’s successful decision to put Greta Gerwig at the helm of Barbie.
Described as “a funny, fierce, and emotionally honest fairy tale for our filtered age,” the Sindy movie aims to tackle themes of friendship, identity, and visibility in a world obsessed with appearances. But any filmmaker taking on this challenge will face enormous expectations. Gerwig’s achievement with Barbie not only set new box office records but also marked a watershed moment for female-driven blockbusters.
Lena Dunham Speaks on the Pressure Post-Barbie
Director and writer Lena Dunham, who previously exited a planned Polly Pocket film, recently shed light on the creative challenges of adapting iconic toy IP. Speaking on a podcast while promoting her Netflix series Too Much, she admitted:
“What Greta did with Barbie—taking a piece of IP and making it so personal and specific—is really, really hard. I just didn’t think I was going to be the best person for the job. Because Greta did it so well, it’s always going to be unnecessarily compared, and she’s my friend. That movie just changed the world.”
Is a Barbie Sequel on the Horizon?
Rumors of a Barbie sequel have swirled ever since the original film dominated pop culture. Last year, reports claimed Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach had “hatched an idea” for a follow-up. However, representatives for both the creative duo and Warner Bros. quickly dismissed the rumors, calling them “inaccurate.”
Despite no official confirmation, speculation remains strong—and even some Hollywood stars have publicly expressed interest in joining a sequel. One A-lister teased:
“I’d have to read a script, but I’m a huge fan of Margot [Robbie], so I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Mattel Expands Its Toy Universe
While Barbie’s next move is uncertain, Mattel is pushing full steam ahead with its cinematic universe. The studio has multiple toy-based projects in the pipeline, including another doll-centric film directed by Gerard Johnstone (M3GAN, M3GAN 2.0). Johnstone recently teased his vision for “a weird, wonderful world of misfit magic,” praising Mattel for its willingness to take bold creative risks—a strategy that paid off handsomely with Gerwig’s nuanced take on Barbie.
Could Sindy replicate—or even surpass—Barbie’s success? With a fresh narrative, a planned musical twist, and a likely powerhouse creative team, this stylish British doll might soon be dancing her way into the spotlight.
