Photo Credit: Getty Images
Lena Dunham has announced her departure from the Polly Pocket film project, stating she didn't believe she could match the success of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Dunham, known for creating and starring in the TV comedy *Girls*, had been working on the Polly Pocket script for three years.
In a recent interview with *The New Yorker*, Dunham said, "I'm not going to make the Polly Pocket movie. I wrote a script, and I was working on it for three years." She was initially tapped to direct the film in 2021, with Emily In Paris star Lily Collins slated to play the lead doll. Producer Robbie Brenner praised Dunham's collaborative approach last year, describing the script as "great."
However, Dunham expressed doubts about her ability to bring the same unique touch to the project that Gerwig did with Barbie. Gerwig's Barbie film grossed $1.44 billion at the box office, making her the most successful solo female director ever. Dunham acknowledged Gerwig's achievement, saying, "I think Greta did this incredible feat, which was to make this thing that was literally candy to so many different kinds of people and was perfectly and divinely Greta. And I just - I felt like, unless I can do it that way, I'm not going to do it. I don't think I have that in me."
Dunham emphasized the importance of personal passion in her projects, stating, "I feel like the next movie I make needs to feel like a movie that I absolutely have to make. No-one but me could make it. And I did think other people could make Polly Pocket."
Despite Dunham's exit, Mattel remains committed to the Polly Pocket film. A spokesperson told *The Hollywood Reporter* that they still hope to bring the project to fruition. The Polly Pocket movie is among several films Mattel has planned following Barbie's success, including a Barney film produced by Daniel Kaluuya and a Hot Wheels movie produced by J.J. Abrams.
Meanwhile, Dunham is focusing on her Netflix series *Too Much*, which is loosely based on her life. The series stars Megan Stalter as the lead character and Will Sharpe as a punk musician she meets in London. Dunham chose not to star in the series herself due to the body shaming she experienced after her role in *Girls*. "Physically, I was just not up for having my body dissected again," she explained. Instead, she cast Stalter, inspired by her work and believing she was the perfect fit for the role.
Dunham's decision to step back from the Polly Pocket film highlights her commitment to projects she feels deeply connected to, while Mattel continues to expand its film endeavors in the wake of Barbie's remarkable success.
