Mattel Inc., in partnership with Paramount Global’s Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, announced plans to develop a live-action movie featuring American Girl, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Following the immense success of “Barbie,” which became the highest-grossing film of the year for Mattel, the toy maker is now set to bring their iconic American Girl lifelike dolls to the big screen. These dolls represent girls and young teens from various walks of life and different historic periods.
While no specific release date has been mentioned, Mattel’s American Girl segment has been a notable revenue driver for the company. However, sales for American Girl experienced a decline of 13% in the third quarter, as reported in late October.
Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Films, expressed excitement about the beloved franchise and its dedicated fanbase. “American Girl is a beloved franchise, rich in history and storytelling with millions of devoted fans,” he stated. Brenner also mentioned the collaboration with Paramount Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment, and Lindsey Anderson Beer to bring American Girl to life on the big screen.
Lindsey Anderson Beer, known for her work on “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines” and “Sierra Burgess is a Loser,” has been retained as the writer for the screenplay and as a producer for the film.
In addition to this exciting project, Mattel made headlines earlier this year when it announced plans to relaunch Barney, targeting millennials’ nostalgia for the friendly purple dinosaur.
After a 2.2% increase during regular trading hours, shares of Mattel slightly declined in the extended session on Wednesday. So far this year, the stock has seen a 6.5% gain, while the S&P 500 index has advanced approximately 23%.
