“Little Women” and “Marriage Story” are clearly two of the best films released in 2019. But there’s an added wrinkle to those films that some people may not be aware of. You see, directors Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, who helmed the respective films, happen to also be involved in a relationship and have a child, making the awards season extra competitive around their household. Not only that, but they’re also frequent collaborators, with probably their biggest film, in terms of budget and size, “Barbie,” on the horizon.
And when it was announced that Baumbach and Gerwig would co-write the script for “Barbie,” with Gerwig in line to possibly direct, film fans were scratching their heads, wondering what would convince two of the best indie directors around to commit to a film about a plastic doll. Well, according to a new interview with THR, Gerwig isn’t able to talk much about “Barbie,” which is set to star Margot Robbie, but did offer a hint as to why she and Baumbach might be able to add something unique to the project.
“Too early to talk about,” she said. “Warner Bros. is open to strange.”
However, when the question about whether or not “Barbie” would somehow mess up Baumbach’s indie credibility, the filmmaker joked, “You’re talking to the guy who wrote ‘Madagascar 3.’”
A “strange” take on “Barbie” is actually something that could be very exciting. And if the duo behind scripts such as “Frances Ha” and “Mistress America” are writing it together, then do we really need any other incentive to give the film a shot?
As for whether or not the duo would likely ever make a non-“Barbie” blockbuster, either together or separate, they didn’t say. However, their agent, Jeremy Barber said, “They almost always get an early look [at blockbuster projects]. And while they have not yet chosen to make one of these movies, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at some point soon make one as a team or on their own.”
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2019
So, while we’re still not sure how “Barbie” is going to play out, or what is going to happen with this year’s awards season, it does seem as if Gerwig and Baumbach are poised for some massive projects in the future, whether that’s together or separate. And if they keep their work at the same level as their films from 2019, then film fans are in for a treat.
