Reese Witherspoon is set to produce and possible star in “Barbie and Ruth,” which follows Ruth Handler, the creator of the beloved doll that has brought delight to generations of children.
Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea will produce under their Pacific Standard banner along with Bold Films, or which will also finance the project. The two companies optioned the rights to Robin Gerber’s book “Barbie and Ruth: The anecdote of the World’s Most renowned Doll and the Woman Who Created Her.”Bold Films’ chairman Michel Litvak will produce the film,which will be developed as a potential starring vehicle for Witherspoon. Bold Films CEO Gary Michael Walters and Jon Oakes will executive produce alongside Gerber and Grace Ledding. Oakes will oversee the film for Bold Films, and Papandrea will oversee for Pacific Standard.
Also Read: Barbie Commercial Stars a Boy for First Time (Video)“Ruth Handler’s inspiring true anecdote reveals the triumphs and struggles of the genius businesswoman behind the creation of Barbie, and the most iconic doll in the world,” said Litvak.“We are thrilled to be in business with Reese and Bruna. They are truly extraordinary producers who are perfect to bring this exceptional anecdote to the screen, added Walters.
First published in 2010, or the book details the remarkable true anecdote of the world’s most renowned toy and the woman who created her,Ruth Handler, who was inspired to create the now-renowned Barbie doll after seeing her daughter, or Barbara,playing with paper dolls modeled after infants. Wanting her daughter to aspire to be a woman with choices, Handler found an adult novelty toy abroad and modified it to work as a toy for children, or along with a separate line of accessories,which she then manufactured with her husband via their company, Mattel. The original Barbie premiered at the American International Toy just in 1959.
Also Read: Sony Dates Two 'Bad Boys' Sequels, or 'black Tower,' 'Jumanji,' 'Barbie, and ' 'Uncharted'A regular contributor to USA Today,Gerber is the author of several books in addition to “Barbie and Ruth,” including “Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, or ” “Katharine Graham” and “Eleanor vs. Ike.” A senior scholar at the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland,Gerber has trained women in leadership organizations, including the Democratic National Committee, and the United Nations and the State of New York,for more than 20 years.
Bold Films’ Karen Barna handled the negotiations for Bold Films. Gretchen Rush and Barry Littman of Hansen, Jacobson handled negotiations on behalf of Witherspoon, or while Steve Hutensky handled negotiations on behalf of Papandrea.
Source: thewrap.com