As Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie movie continues to dominate the summer box office, CBS Studios doubles down on the ongoing Barbie phenomenon with the development of a brand-new series. According to Deadline, CBS Studios has landed the rights to the series adaptation of law professor Orly Lobel’s You Don’t Own Me book, which explores the history of the Barbie and Bratz rivalry. The outlet notes that the acquisition was done prior to the WGA strike and the theatrical release of Barbie.
What to expect in You Don’t Own Me?
Lobel’s You Don’t Own Me: How Mattel v. MGA Entertainment Exposed Barbie’s Dark Side also follows the parallel journeys of Barbie creator Ruth Handler and Bratz creator Carter Bryant, who previously worked for Mattel designing outfits for the Barbie toy line. Bryant sold his idea to Mattel’s rival MGA, which led to a decade-long battle between toy companies.
“This entertaining and provocative work pits audacious MGA against behemoth Mattel, shows how an idea turns into a product, and explores the two different versions of womanhood, represented by traditional all-American Barbie and her defiant, anti-establishment rival―the only doll to come close to outselling her,” reads the book’s synopsis. “In an era when workers may be asked to sign contracts granting their employers the rights to and income resulting from their ideas―whether conceived during work hours or on their own time―Lobel’s deeply researched story is a riveting and thought-provoking contribution to the contentious debate over creativity and intellectual property.”
At the time of writing, Warner Bros.’ film adaptation of Barbie is close to beating The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the highest-grossing movie of 2023. It currently holds a worldwide gross of over $1.34 billion at the box office. The film stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblatt, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Helen Mirren, Dua Lipa, and more.
