Sony developing live-action Barbie comed

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barbie is coming alive.

Sony Pictures, Mattel and Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation have partnered to create a live-action movie focused on the iconic doll.

The companies said Wednesday the comedy will be written by Jenny Bicks ("What a Girl Wants") and produced by husband-and-wife team Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald ("Men in Black 3").

Executive producers will be Parkes+MacDonald president Marc Resteghini and Julia Pistor for Mattel's Playground Productions.

Sony sees the film as a global franchise and plans to go into production by the end of the year.

It's the second collaboration for Mattel and Sony. The companies are developing the film adaptation of "Masters of the Universe," based on Mattel action figures.