Amy Schumer is in talks to bring Barbie to the silver screen.

The actress and comedian will star as the iconic doll - and rewrite the script for the live-action film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Sony film is expected to begin production in the spring to be released in the summer of 2018, Deadline reported.

It has been given the thumbs-up by US toy brand Mattel, which launched the Barbie doll in March 1959.

The US firm has been criticised for Barbie's unrealistic body image.


Image: A 50th anniversary Barbie doll

In January, it released three new body shapes - tall, curvy and petite Barbie dolls - as an alternative to the traditional slim, busty shape.

"Barbie reflects the world girls see around them," said Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer of Mattel.

"Her ability to evolve and grow with the times, while staying true to her spirit, is central to why Barbie is the number one fashion doll in the world."

Some Twitter users questioned the filmmakers' choice for their lead actress.

One woman wrote: "Casting Amy Schumer as Barbie will not change Mattel branding into some kind of body positive mantra."

However, others said Schumer's casting was "positive" because "she's not stick thin".

Schumer has commented on her own appearance in the past.

When she posed nearly nude for the 2016 Pirelli calendar, the 35-year-old anticipated her Twitter followers' comments, captioning the image: "Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman."