Despite her start as simply a toy designed for children in the late 1950s, Barbie has managed to capture the imagination of every generation since, and is a household name across the world.

You only need to look at the multiple Barbie Instagram accounts (with a following within the millions), the women who spend thousands of pounds to look and be more like their idol and listen in on the ongoing debate of whether she is an appropriate role model for girls – and boys – to see how entrenched she still is in modern culture.

Perhaps that’s why actor-turned-producer Reese Witherspoon has bought the film rights to the 2010 book The Story of the World’s Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her by Robin Gerber, and plans to bring to life the rich history of the iconic doll on-screen.

The book is described as “a fascinating account of how one visionary woman and her product changed an industry and sparked a lasting debate about women’s roles.”

Reese Witherspoon signs onto Barbie film