Mattel to make ‘American Girl’ after ‘Barbie’ success

Ryan Gosling (left) and Margot Robbie in “Barbie”—WARNER BROS

Mattel said on Wednesday it was planning to make a live-action feature film based on its “American Girl” doll line with Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, after the box-office success of its “Barbie” movie earlier this year.

Shares of the toymaker rose marginally in extended trading after it also said Lindsey Anderson Beer, who wrote the Netflix film “Sierra Burgess is a Loser,” would write the screenplay and produce the film.

The Margot Robbie-starrer “Barbie,” released in July, recorded the biggest opening of the year, which Mattel in October said was expected to contribute more than $125 million toward its Dolls segment’s key gross billings measure in 2023.

“Barbie” movie ads are seen during the film’s first screening at Vox Cinemas, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. —REUTERS

“American Girl” was founded in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland, a teacher-turned-entrepreneur who set out to celebrate girlhood with beautiful dolls and adventurous books that would nourish a child’s imagination and provide education and entertainment.

Paramount Pictures, a unit of media and entertainment company Paramount Global, has produced several film franchises including “Mission Impossible,” while Temple Hill Entertainment has produced films including “The Fault in Our Stars.”—Reuters