Since she first captured kids’ hearts in the last part of the 1980s, Polly Pocket has inspired playsets, dolls, web series and television shows. She’s roller-skated, snowboarded, shopped, sang, and exhibited a captivating can-do attitude. Presently, Ms. Pocket will be the subject of a component movie that will be written and directed by Lena Dunham, the creator of “Girls.” “Emily in Paris” star Lily Collins will put her own twist on Polly, and will create the film as well as playing the title role.
The film version of the popular micro-doll line joins a long and discontinuously recognized cadre of toys-to-movies that incorporates the good (“Transformers,” “The Lego Movie”), the bad (“Max Steel”), and the ugly (“Battleship”). Mattel Films, the film division of the toy organization, is working with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) on the film, just as with Lena Dunham’s production company Good Thing Going. The film will center on a young girl and a pocket-sized woman who form a friendship.
“As a child who was obsessed with Polly Pocket, this is a real dream come true and I can’t wait to bring these tiny toys to the big screen,” said Collins.
Robbie Brenner and Kevin McKeon will administer the project for Mattel Films. Sandino Moya-Smith and Winnie Carrillo will head things up for MGM. Beneficial Thing Going’s Liz Watson and Michael P. Cohen will fill in as executive producers.
“Polly Pocket was responsible for countless hours of childhood escapism for me – Polly gave me a tiny world of magic and autonomy to narrate, so it’s pretty poetic to be tackling these same ideas now as a director collaborating with the brilliant Lily Collins, Robbie Brenner, Mattel and MGM,” said Dunham. “I’m so thrilled to bring to bear both my love of this historic property and also my deep-seated belief that young women need smart playful films that speak to them without condescension.”
Mattel has a few projects in development including films dependent on its American Girl, Barbie, Barney, and Hot Wheels toys. A portion of these have attracted similar high-end talent to Dunham and Collins, with Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie teaming up bring “Barbie” to the screen.
Dunham is addressed by CAA and ID. Collins is represented by CAA, LBI Entertainment, Definition Entertainment and The Lede Company.