Margot Robbie inBarbie(2023); Cillian Murphy inOppenheimer(2023).Photo:Warner Bros. Pictures; Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures; Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
Barbenheimer lives on!
A new film embracing the summer 2023 blockbuster craze is on its way from producerCharles Band, via hisFull Moon Featuresbanner, he confirms to PEOPLE.
“With the world so divided and with so many genre films focusing on things that depress, withBarbenheimer, I just want to make a fun, cool, witty little weird movie that unites people with laughter and fun — that reminds us movies can simply be escapism,” says Band, 71, who is known for his work in the horror and horror-comedy genres, from thePuppet Mastermovies to theTrancersandGingerdead Manfilm series.
Band first spoke withThe Hollywood ReporteraboutBarbenheimer, which features the cheeky tagline “D-Cup, A-Bomb” and leverages the phenomenon that kicked off in late July, when theatergoers saw two wildly different movies —Greta Gerwig’sBarbieandChristopher Nolan’sOppenheimer— in the same weekend (sometimes even as a double feature on the same day!).
“We’re making a crazy, candy-colored romp that riffs on two movies that literally have nothing in common and yet when placed together, make perfect — and perfectly strange — harmonious bedfellows,” the producer tells PEOPLE. “Which is what I wish we could do inreallife (as opposed to ‘reel’ life).”
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Charles Band in Sitges, Spain, on Oct. 5, 2019.Getty
Getty
According to Band, his biographer Adam Felber came up with the idea for theBarbenheimermovie, telling the producer, “Everyone around the world is having fun with that notion, so we should actually make it,” Band recalled toTHR.
Calling the project “an opportunity to have fun with the bizarre coupling of these two movies and the combination ofBarbie’s vibe and the darkness ofOppenheimer,” Band also said in his conversation withTHR, “You mix that together and you have such an opportunity for dark humor.”
“But it seems like every other feature is dark and depressing, and it’s like, God, we need a little humor going into 2024,” he added.
Margot Robbie inBarbie(2023); Cillian Murphy inOppenheimer(2023).Warner Bros., Universal Pictures
Warner Bros., Universal Pictures
“On top ofBarbenheimerthe movie, Full Moon will add some crazy merch to our already robust line of toys, including a Dr. Barbenheimer action figure riding a nuclear missile a laDr. Strangelove,” Band tells PEOPLE. “This is going to be a fun one, and I’m super excited to bringBarbenheimerto life!”
In the weeks leading up to the July 21 release date of bothBarbieandOppenheimer, the internet coined the term “Barbenheimer” to label a viral trend challenging fans to see both movies.
Even the stars of the respective moviessaid they’d be in lineto check out the competition.Cillian Murphy— who headlinesOppenheimeras the real-life father of the atomic bomb,J. Robert Oppenheimer— toldIGNback in July that he personally"[couldn’t] wait" to seeBarbie, which starsMargot Robbieas the titular Mattel doll andRyan Goslingas her Ken.
Both films made a killing at the box office, withOppenheimer’s global total sitting at $947 million andBarbie’s at $1.44 billion, cementing the latter’s status as thehighest-grossing film of 2023andWarner Bros.' biggest of all time.
Barbieis streaming now, whileOppenheimerwill be availableon 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital on Nov. 21.
source: people.com
