Kait Mae

Barbie was a hit – the movie of the year – and Polly Pocket is reportedly on the way. Mattel is doing well with its films and projects, but MGA has stuck to dolls since 2020. It’s time for that to change – at least, that’s what I’d love to see.

Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted a live-action Bratz franchise; the one movie just wasn’t enough – nor did it feel like the Bratz we knew and loved as kids. So, I’m taking it upon myself to create a hypothetical live-action Bratz franchise that so many girls and women would love.

What Would It Look Like?

First and foremost, the main focus would be a live-action television series with about 20 30-minute episodes per season. I’m saying 20 because I’m tired of 8 episode shows that don’t give us enough time to love the characters.

I’d aim for the same vibes and aesthetics as the original show and movies. The focus would be on the girls’ friendship and growth, as well as the fashion magazine they run.

As for when the show would take place, high school age – specifically around 16-year-old Bratz – would be ideal. It would see the beginning of their magazine and then see them grow and change through their experiences.

I’d even aim to have the six non-magical Bratz movies remade for live-action to accompany the show. These movies are Starrin’ and Stylin’, Rock Angelz, Passion for Fashion – Diamondz, Girlz Really Rock, Pampered Petz, and Go to Paris the Movie.

Regarding fashion, I found aesthetics that would fit each of the Bratz girls. But I’m not going to get into those here – if you want to know more, I have a YouTube video you can check out now.

Other Themes the Show Would Cover

While fashion and the Bratz girls’ friendship would be the main focus, there’d have to be other themes to explore throughout the show.

One is how teens aren’t taken seriously regarding several issues, including business matters. Even more so, teen girls’ interests are belittled and thrown around as jokes, and the show would be able to examine that theme expertly.

I’d also like to explore prejudice and racism – especially within the fashion industry and schooling – similarly to That’s So Raven.

Some other topics would include divorced or divorcing parents, cheating in school and relationships, not feeling “good enough,” friendship dynamics changing throughout the years, and sexism in various areas of life.

Read More: Disney Should Bring Back the Disney Fairies Franchise

Who Are the Bratz?

Cloe

Okay, I know Sabrina Carpenter is literally Cloe come to life – but she seems to be focusing on her music right now. Not to mention, she’d always be seen as Sabrina instead of Cloe if she was in the show.

But then, who should play our lovable, clumsy drama queen? I went back and forth between several actresses that might work well as Cloe – like Meg Donnelly and Madison Iseman – but none fit in with the other actresses I’ve chosen for the other Bratz.

I had nearly given up the search and called it quits, but then I remembered an actress from Wolf Pack – Chloe Rose Robertson. She looks the part, and from her time as Luna, she could handle Cloe’s personality. (Speaking of Wolf Pack, I’m still not over it being canceled.)

Sasha

When it comes to Sasha, I’ve heard quite a few names thrown out, from Marsai Martin to Coco Jones to Yara Shahidi. And while I love them all for different reasons, I went a slightly different route.

Lovie Simone would be my top choice for Sasha. She’s a fantastic actress – my only question is, “Can she sing?” Lovie, first and foremost, looks the part. She can hold her own in several genres, so why not toss her into a contemporary teen fashion-centric show?

Jade

Everywhere I looked online said Jade is “Asian” to keep her ethnically ambiguous. So, with that in mind, my casting search criteria were just that.

Siena Agudong is my top pick for Jade because I’ve seen her act in several projects, most notably Netflix’s No Good Nick. She’s 19 but looks younger, which fits the show’s timeframe. Siena is Filipino, Polynesian, and Caucasian.

Yasmin

When I watched the animated movies, show, and live-action movie, there was (and still is) a discourse over what ethnicity Yasmin is. I’ve heard Iranian, Greek, and Latina the most. A Reddit user even said it’s confirmed that she’s Puerto Rican and Iranian.

But according to Bratz Fandom wiki page, her name is of Arabic and Persian origins, she speaks Spanish, and was originally a Hispanic girl named Lupe.

My main point in saying this is that I couldn’t choose just one actress like I did with the other Bratz girls. Depending on which way the writers and producers want to go with Yasmin’s story, I have found three actresses that could fit with her various backstories.

First, Isabela Merced would be my pick if we were to go the Latina route. She’s a singer and actress who has proven to hold her own across genres and scenes.

Before I get into my next two actresses, I want to note I couldn’t find any teen or early 20s Iranian actresses who looked to be 16 or 17. So, I went a bit more broad and found a Jordanian actress and a Jordanian-Lebanese actress.

First, we have Yara Mustafa. She doesn’t have Yasmin’s exact look in the animated shows, but I watched a few of her roles, and I think she could carry the part well.

Next, we have Andria Tayeh, who looks how I imagine Yasmin would look in real life. I haven’t caught her work yet, but if she can act as well as I’ve heard, I’m sure she’d handle the role well.

Read More: Should Mattel Adapt Their Animated Movies?

Everyone Else

First off, let’s get the main antagonists of the Bratz out of the way – we need Burdine and the Tweevils. For Burdine, I couldn’t imagine anyone other than the OG actress herself, Wendie Malick.

I know the Tweevils – Kirstee and Kaycee – are twins, but I didn’t want to search high and low for twins that fit the part. So, I went for actresses who looked similar, but you could still tell them apart in a pinch.

That’s how I got Olivia Scott Welch as Kirstee and Angourie Rice as Kaycee. I loved Olivia in Panic and Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy, and Angourie is just a new favorite of mine. They both can act well and have similar features, so I think they’d fit perfectly in this hypothetical series.

Next up, let’s get the other set of twins constantly seen with the Bratz – Phoebe and Roxxi. Roxxi was super easy to cast because as soon as I saw her in Fate: The Winx Saga, I knew Sadie Soverall was the only live-action Roxxi there could ever be.

As for Phoebe, I’d love to cast another actress who looks like Sadie, but I couldn’t find anyone that fit just right. So, following in Liv and Maddie’s footsteps, why not have Sadie play both roles with body double stand-ins. I haven’t seen her in a softer role yet, but I have no doubts she could handle it.

Onto the boys! I thought I knew who I wanted to play Cameron, but after seeing him again recently, I realized Logan Shroyer looks a bit too old for the role among the Bratz girls.

So, I went on the search again while rewatching Country Comfort, and I knew Richard Hurtado would be the perfect Cameron. He played a similar character in the show version of School of Rock, and he’s proven he can handle emotional scenes from his time on Country Comfort. He also sang in both shows, so if, for some reason, the guys needed to sing, Richard could hold his own.

I couldn’t find someone who fit Dylan’s looks to a tee, so I’m going with two actors who could accurately portray his personality.

First, we have Christopher O’Neal because his character on Netflix’s Greenhouse Academy gave Dylan vibes, and he did so well. Next, we have Quincy Fouce, also known as MG in Legacies. While MG wasn’t much like Dylan, Quincy could do well if given the chance.

I couldn’t find a definite answer to Eitan’s ethnicity, but a general consensus among fans was South-East or South Asian descent. So, that’s how I found Black Phone actor Tristan Pravong. I haven’t seen much of his work, but his headshots on IMDb give off Eitan from the animated movies energy.

And last but not least, Koby. The only person I can imagine playing Koby to a tee is Tanner Buchanan because of his roles in Girl Meets World and He’s All That. He also showed he can handle an ensemble cast with his work on Cobra Kai, so I’m all for him playing Koby.

If you want me to cast the other lesser-talked-about characters from the animated Bratz franchise, I’m all for going on the search. And don’t forget – I have a YouTube video out now on how I would style the Bratz in this hypothetical project.