Everything to Know About Margot Robbie’s Live-Action Movie
Come on, Barbie, let’s go party! The live-action approach to the story of iconic doll line has been a long time in the making.
The Barbie movie was originally set to be rewritten by Diablo Cody with Amy Schumer in the lead role. After the writer departed from the project, Cody opened up about the complications that came with trying to bring the iteration to life.
“I never even produced an initial draft. I failed so hard at that project. I was literally incapable of writing a Barbie script. God knows I tried,” the Jennifer’s Body screenwriter told Screen Crush in 2018. “To be honest, the timeline coincided with my writing Tully. I was really overwhelmed at the time, and I think I was really only capable of reaching in and pulling out something super personal. Look, I think the idea of a Barbie movie is super f–king cool and I hope something goes in there and kills it.”
Months after Schumer’s casting was announced, the comedian also dropped out, citing scheduling conflicts. The New York native later clarified that there were creative differences that halted her participation.
“They definitely didn’t want to do it the way I wanted to do it, the only way I was interested in doing it,” Schumer told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2022, noting that she wanted the character to be an “ambitious inventor” but it was turned down.
The Last Comic Standing alum alleged that the plan was for Barbie to invent high heels made of Jell-O. “I felt like I was disappointing my team by not being Barbie,” Schumer admitted at the time. “The idea that that’s just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, ‘You’ve got the wrong gal.’”
Following Schumer’s exit, Margot Robbie took over the role of Barbie. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach later joined to pen the script and work behind the camera to bring the story to life.
Ahead of production, Robbie teased during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2020 that Barbie will be “the thing you didn’t know you wanted.”
Scroll down for everything to know about the upcoming live-action Barbie film:
Credit: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
Everything to Know About Margot Robbie’s Live-Action ‘Barbie’ Movie
Come on, Barbie, let’s go party! The live-action approach to the story of iconic doll line has been a long time in the making.
The Barbie movie was originally set to be rewritten by Diablo Cody with Amy Schumer in the lead role. After the writer departed from the project, Cody opened up about the complications that came with trying to bring the iteration to life.
“I never even produced an initial draft. I failed so hard at that project. I was literally incapable of writing a Barbie script. God knows I tried,” the Jennifer’s Body screenwriter told Screen Crush in 2018. “To be honest, the timeline coincided with my writing Tully. I was really overwhelmed at the time, and I think I was really only capable of reaching in and pulling out something super personal. Look, I think the idea of a Barbie movie is super f–king cool and I hope something goes in there and kills it.”
Months after Schumer’s casting was announced, the comedian also dropped out, citing scheduling conflicts. The New York native later clarified that there were creative differences that halted her participation.
“They definitely didn’t want to do it the way I wanted to do it, the only way I was interested in doing it,” Schumer told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2022, noting that she wanted the character to be an “ambitious inventor” but it was turned down.
The Last Comic Standing alum alleged that the plan was for Barbie to invent high heels made of Jell-O. “I felt like I was disappointing my team by not being Barbie,” Schumer admitted at the time. “The idea that that’s just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, ‘You’ve got the wrong gal.’”
Following Schumer’s exit, Margot Robbie took over the role of Barbie. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach later joined to pen the script and work behind the camera to bring the story to life.
Ahead of production, Robbie teased during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2020 that Barbie will be “the thing you didn’t know you wanted.”
Scroll down for everything to know about the upcoming live-action Barbie film:
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When Will It Be Released?
Filming for the Barbie project began in 2022 and will be released on July 21, 2023.
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What Can Viewers Expect?
During an interview with Vogue in August 2021, Robbie hinted that the role of Barbie “comes with a lot of baggage” and “a lot of nostalgic connections.”
“But with that come[s] a lot of exciting ways to attack it,” she shared at the time. “People generally hear Barbie and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I don’t.’”
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Who Else Has Joined the Cast?
In April 2022, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Will Ferrell had signed on to the film and will reportedly play the CEO of a toy company that may or may not be a reference to Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls. In addition, Sex Education star — and Robbie doppelgänger — Emma Mackey joined the cast. Though her role has not been revealed, many fans began speculating that she would be playing Skipper, the younger sister of Barbie, thanks to her resemblance to the Suicide Squad star.
Credit: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
What Will It Look Like?
In April 2022, Warner Bros. released a photo of Robbie as Barbie in the fictional character’s signature pink convertible.
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What Were Some of the Requirements for a Role?
During an interview with The Independent, Liu revealed that he had to be fully waxed to portray a version of a Ken doll. “I have such a newfound admiration for the incredibly brave women who go through this on a monthly basis,” the actor said in May 2022, referring to his waxing sessions as “the most painful experiences” of his life.
Credit: Jaap Buitendijk
Ken Has Arrived
Warner Bros. shared the first photo of Gosling as Ken in June 2022. The Notebook actor is tanned, hairless and rocking his own brand of underwear.
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The Outfits Are Everything
In June 2022, Robbie and Gosling were spotted filming in Los Angeles, wearing their Western finest. Ken’s ensemble included a white cowboy hat, pink neckerchief and an embroidered shit with white fringe along the back and arms. Robbie’s Barbie, meanwhile, chose a matching vest and pants embroidered with sparkly stars in her signature shade of hot pink. The look was finished off with long, blonde locks and a white cowboy hat.
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Roller Blading Pros
Robbie and Gosling suited up in matching pink neon outfits for a roller blading scene in June 2022.
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What a Vibe
“It’s the first movie I’ve ever been involved with where, like, the public knows about it before it’s even, you know, done being made,” Michael Cera told Entertainment Tonight in June 2022. “People know about it [before it’s out.] … In a way, it’s already over and we had such a good vibe. There’s a really good cast vibe on this movie and I think the movie’s gonna be great. I’m really excited about it.”
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How Did the Cast Bond?
“Right in the beginning, we had a sleepover for the Barbies,” Mackey told Empire in July 2022. “Which would involve playing games with Scott [Evans] and Ncuti [Gatwa].”
She added: “I don’t play games usually, because I get so competitive and angry. But Scott and I were top of the game [in table tennis].”
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What Are Ryan Gosling’s Thoughts on the Film?
“I can’t wait for people to see the film. That’s all I can say, otherwise, Mattel will come in and box me up,” the Gray Man star jokingly told Entertainment Tonight in July 2022, noting that his retro roller skating outfit was “nothing” compared to the rest of the production.
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How Much Money Did Margot Make?
Robbie became the highest paid actress in Hollywood with her $12.5 million Barbie salary, Variety reported in July 2022. Her counterpart, Gosling, earned a whopping $12.5 million payday as well, per the outlet.
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Pops of Color
During red carpet coverage ahead of the 2022 Emmy Awards, McKinnon told Laverne Cox her favorite part of the upcoming film — “the colors.” The Saturday Night Live alum added, “The sets are everything, the costumes are everything. … I’m just so excited for people to see it.”
The New York native and Gerwig knew each other during their college years. “We sort of lived in a dorm together too,” McKinnon explained to Cox.
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What Does Will Ferrell Think About the Movie, His Role?
“It is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate example of high art and low art,” Ferrell told WSJ. Magazine in November 2022. “It’s a loving homage to the brand and, at the same time, couldn’t be more satirical. Just an amazing comment on male patriarchy and women in society and why Barbie’s criticized and yet why every little girl still wants to play with Barbie.”
He teased his character’s story line, adding, “I get to play the CEO of Mattel and be that guy who’s just insensitive but weird and then, not to spoil anything, but … Anyway, that’s what excites me.”
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Will Barbie’s Dream Houses Make an Appearance?
“You’ll see some dream houses and it will be everything you ever dreamed of,” Robbie teased during a December 2022 appearance on Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, where she spoke with The Fablemans star Michelle Williams.