Diablo Cody, Set to Pen the Script for the next ‘Barbie’ Movie

Brook Busey-Maurio, 36, screenwriter, producer, director and ex-stripper, better known by her pen name Diablo Cody, has been hired to write the next draft of the script for Sony's live-action Barbie movie. The project which was first revealed in April 2014 has Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald and Amy Pascal on board as producers. Mattel's Playground Productions' Julia Pistor is executive producing. The initial draft for the script was done by Jenny Bicks.

In announcing the designation of a new screenwriter for the upcoming live-action Barbie movie, producer Parkes said: "Diablo's unconventionality is just what Barbie needs. It signals we're going for a legitimately contemporary tone. We're bringing her on because she had great ideas, but even more importantly, she truly loves Barbie."

Diablo Cody is of course known for her unconventionality. She first came to national attention for her candid chronicling of her years as a stripper in her "The Pussy Ranch" blog and in her memoir "Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper." She later achieved critical acclaim for her debut script for the 2007 comedy drama Juno which won for her the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay. She also received critical acclaim for her script writing work on Jennifer's Body, Burlesque, and Young Adult. Her small-screen credits include Showtime's United States of Tara where she is creator, writer and executive producer.

Diablo Cody is also the scriptwriter for the highly anticipated upcoming comedy drama Ricki and the Flash directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Meryl Streep with her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer along with Kevine Kline, Rick Springfield, Sebastian Stan and Ben Platt. To be shown in theaters beginning August 7, Cody's story focuses on the aging Ricki (Streep) who abandons her family to chase her dreams of becoming a famous rock star. She gets a last chance to put things right when her ex-husband Pete (Kline) asks her to visit Chicago and help their estranged, divorced-daughter Julie (Gummer) through a difficult time.