Filmmakers Are Eager to Enliven World-Famous Barbie

  Never old beauty is going to become a star in the world of grown-ups, debuting in her first full-screen movie.

Photo: Filmmakers Are Eager to Enliven World-Famous Barbie

   Universal studios has grabbed the rights to make a live-action motion picture based on the famed doll, Barbie, according to Variety.

   "Barbie may be the most popular girl in the world," Universal Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger told the entertainment publication.  "We're grateful to Mattel for entrusting us with this extraordinary opportunity."

   Laurence Mark, producer of "Julie & Julia," will head up the production.

   Barbie has previously been featured only in an assortment of animated direct-to-DVD films, as well as several video games.

   With the different incarnations of Barbie (whose full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts), it is unclear at this point what kind of interpretation a live-action film would take on the character.

   Barbie has become a cultural icon and has been given honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for a week, In 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.
New York Daily News contributed to the report.