Sky Documentaries boards Two Rivers Barbie doc

Barbie: Uncovered will land as original series after deal with Abacus Media Rights

Sky Documentaries has boarded Two Rivers Media’s feature doc Barbie: Uncovered as co-producer.  

The pay-TV giant will launch the film as a Sky original having brokered a deal with distributor Abacus Media Rights. Barbie: Uncovered is set to land on the channel and on-demand service Now on 27 March.  

The Two Rivers and RW Productions-produced doc received funding from the BFI’s £1.2m UK Global Screen Fund last year. 

Riding off the back of the recent box office smash, Barbie: Uncovered explores the triumph of the world’s iconic doll, revealing the untold story of Barbie’s creators, Ruth Handler and Jack Ryan.  

The doc delves into the history of the duo who made Barbie rise to fame, one who built the largest toy company in the world, Mattel, from nothing, and the other, a rocket scientist who made Barbie “twist and turn”.    

The film spotlights the soaring success of Barbie, from 300,000 sales in its first year to over 2bn by the time of Handler’s death.  

The immense financial gains of the pair contribute to a surprising story of betrayal, sex, drugs and excessive partying. 

Two Rivers’ managing director Alan Clements and RW Productions’ Ross Wilson produce the doc, which is directed by Eddie Hutton-Mills. Abacus Media Rights handles distribution. 

Barbie: Uncovered has been commissioned for Sky Documentaries by Zai Bennett, managing director of content and Jack Oliver, head of co-productions. 

Oliver said: “I was instantly intrigued to learn that Barbie’s biographical story was loaded with jealousy, betrayal, sex, drugs and rock n’roll. Barbie survived all that to become one of the most iconic success stories of the 20th century.  

“Working with Eddie Hutton Mills and the teams at Two Rivers and Abacus Media Rights to bring this documentary to life has been pleasure, we know audiences will love it and we’re delighted to be launching the true story behind Barbie’s squeaky-clean image on Sky Documentaries.”  

Clements added: “Everyone at Two Rivers loves a great story, and stories don’t come much bigger than Barbie. It has been a real pleasure making our first Sky documentary with Jack and his team and we hope the Sky audience are as gripped by this extraordinary tale as much as we were”.