Reese Witherspoon is about to take the Barbie world on screen! The 39- year-old actress is currently developing, and will potentially star in the Barbie origins movie, Variety reports Monday.
Witherspoon, along with partner Bruna Papandrea under their Pacific Standard banner will produce the said film about the creator of the iconic Barbie doll that swept every little girl's feet. They are teaming up with Bold Films for finance.
The two companies behind the project have optioned the movie rights to Robin Gerber's book "Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her." The book, published in 2010 is about Barbie creator Ruth Handler, who was inspired to create the Barbie doll after seeing her daughter, Barbara, playing with paper dolls modeled after infants. The now world-famous barbie doll was then launched at the American International Toy Fair in 1959. Soon after modifying a novelty toy abroad as a toy for children, her husband's company Mattel introduced the Barbie doll in 1959.
Michel Litvak of Bold Films is also producing with Witherspoon and Papandrea. "Ruth Handler's inspiring true story reveals the triumphs and struggles of the genius businesswoman behind the creation of Barbie, the most iconic doll in the world," said Litvak.
Bold Films' CEO Gary Michael Walters and Jon Oakes alongside Robin Gerber and Grace Ledding are also involved in the project as executive producers.
Witherspoon and Papandrea's Pacific Standard were known as the producer of films 'Wild', 'Hot Pursuit', and critically acclaimed 'Gone Girl,' which were all based on bestselling novels.
Among Pacific Standard's numerous projects lined up is Gayle Tzemach Lemmon's "Ashley's War" at Fox 2000, "Big Little Lies," "Pennyroyal's Princess Boot Camp," " Wendy Walker's "All Is Not Forgotten," Ruth Ware's "In a Dark, Dark Wood" and Garth Callaghan's "Napkin Notes."
"The production company has been aggressive in acquiring movie rights since its formation in 2012 in order to remedy the absence of movies with female protagonists", Variety writes.
