Barbie coming to the big screen in live-action comedy

Barbie is coming alive on the big screen.

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

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").

"We've always thought that the Barbie story had great potential, but a universe of possibilities opened up when Jenny, Walter and Laurie brought us their unexpected, clever and truly funny concept," Hannah Minghella, Columbia Pictures' president of production, said in a statement. "It captures everything that has made Barbie a classic for generation after generation while also standing on its own, establishing Barbie as a truly original screen character."

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 Sony and Mattel. The companies are currently developing the film adaptation of "Masters of the Universe," based on Mattel action figures.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros. brought its own toy-based adaptation to cinemas with "The Lego Movie," which was a box office hit and now has a sequel in the works.