Barbie is an upcoming fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. It is Barbie’s first live-action film, based on the popular Mattel fashion dolls. The film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, with a talented supporting cast including America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.
Development on the film began in 2014 when Sony Pictures acquired the rights, but it went through several changes in writers, directors, and cast members. Eventually, the rights were transferred to Warner Bros. Pictures in 2018, with Margot Robbie in talks to play Barbie. Robbie was officially cast in 2019, and Gerwig and Baumbach were announced as director and co-writer in 2021. The rest of the cast, including Ryan Gosling, was announced in early 2022.
Principal photography for Barbie took place primarily at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, England, from March to July 2022. The film will open in Los Angeles on July 9, 2023, and is scheduled to be released in the United States. on July 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Barbie Movie Production :
Development of a Barbie movie began in September 2009 with a partnership between Mattel, Universal Pictures and producer Laurence Mark. However, no progress was made. In April 2014, Mattel partnered with Sony Pictures and Jenny Bicks was hired to write the script. Diablo Cody joined the project in March 2015 for rewrites and Amy Pascal joined as producer. Lindsey Beer, Bert V. Royal, and Hillary Winston did further rewrites in 2015. Amy Schumer entered negotiations to star in the film in December 2016, but later dropped out due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences. Anne Hathaway was considered for the role, and Olivia Milch was brought in to rewrite more scripts. Alethea Jones was attached to direct. However, in October 2018, the project moved to Warner Bros., leading to the departure of Hathaway, Jones, and others. Margot Robbie entered talks for the lead role, and Patty Jenkins was briefly considered for directing. Robbie’s casting was confirmed in July 2019, with Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach now penning the script. Gerwig later signed on to direct in July 2021. The writing process took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Gerwig being inspired by an abstract poem about Barbie, the book “Reviving Ophelia,” and classic Technicolor musicals. The goal of the film is to subvert expectations and give audiences something unexpected.
The movie “Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as Barbie, boasts a star-studded cast. Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, and Kate McKinnon were cast in October 2021 and February 2022. Ariana Greenblatt, Alexandra Shipp, and Emma Mackey joined the cast in March 2022. Additional cast members were announced in April, including Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Hari Nef, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Ncuti Gatwa, Emerald Fennell, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Connor Swindells, Ritu Arya, and Jamie Demetriou.
The filmmakers sought actresses with “Barbie energy” for various roles, and many supporting cast members will play different versions of Barbie and Ken. Gal Gadot was originally considered for a Barbie role, but was unavailable. Helen Mirren narrated the trailer for the film and filmed a cameo.
Filming took place from March to July 2022 at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, England, and Venice Beach Skatepark in Los Angeles, California. Rodrigo Prieto served as cinematographer. The reshoots occurred in Los Angeles in April 2023.
The set design was inspired by mid-century modernist architecture in Palm Springs, including Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House, as well as the aesthetic of Slim Aarons photography and various film references. Practical effects were used to capture the sky and the San Jacinto Mountains. The set prominently featured Pantone 219, a specific shade of pink paint that reportedly caused an international shortage.
Costume designer Jacqueline Durran created Barbie’s wardrobe based on her activities and location. The wardrobe was inspired by the French Riviera in the early 1960s and incorporated elements of Brigitte Bardot’s style. Ken’s outfits featured colorful sportswear from the 1980s, including a suggestion from Ryan Gosling for Ken-branded underwear. Durran also adapted outfits from previous iterations of Barbie dolls and used fashion archives, including Chanel pieces.
Overall, the “Barbie” movie combines an all-star cast, visually stunning design, and carefully crafted wardrobe to bring the iconic toy franchise to life on the big screen.
Barbie movie animation list :
- Barbie in the Nutcracker – 2001
- Barbie as Rapunzel – 2002
- Barbie of Swan Lake – 2003
- Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper – 2004
- Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus – 2005
- The Barbie Diaries – 2006
- Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses – 2006
- Barbie as the Island Princess – 2007
- Barbie & the Diamond Castle – 2008
- Barbie in a Christmas Carol – 2008
- Barbie: Thumbelina – 2009
- Barbie and the Three Musketeers – 2009
- Barbie in A Mermaid Tale – 2010
- Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale – 2010
- Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 – 2011
- Barbie: A Fairy Secret – 2011
- Barbie: Princess Charm School – 2011
- Barbie: A Perfect Christmas – 2011
- Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar – 2012
- Barbie in The Pink Shoes – 2013
- Barbie and her Sisters in A Pony Tale – 2013
- Barbie: The Pearl Princess – 2014
- Barbie and the Secret Door – 2014
- Barbie in Princess Power – 2015
- Barbie & Her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure – 2015
- Barbie: Spy Squad – 2016
- Barbie: Star Light Adventure – 2016
- Barbie & Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase – 2016
- Barbie: Video Game Hero – 2017
- Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday – 2021
Barbie Movie Trailer 2023 :
Barbie Movie Cast :
- Margot Robbie as a Barbie
- Ryan Gosling as a Ken
- Greta Gerwig
- Will Ferrell as a Toy Company CEO
- Emma Mackey as a Physicist Barbie
- Simu Liu as a Ken #2
- Michael Cera as a Alan
- America Ferrera
- Kate McKinnon as a Weird Barbie
- Issa Rae as a President Barbie
- Hari Nef as a Doctor Barbie
- Ariana Greenblatt
- Emerald Fennell as a Midge
- Ncuti Gatwa as a Ken
- Alexandra Shipp as a Writer Barbie
- Rhea Perlman
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as a Kingsley Ben-Adir
- Connor Swindells as a Connor Swindells
- Nicola Coughlan as a Diplomat Barbie
- Sharon Rooney as a Lawyer Barbie
- Scott Evans as a Ken #6
- Ritu Arya as a Barbie
- Jamie Demetriou
- Ana Cruz Kayne as a Judge Barbie
- Luke Mullen
- Dua Lipa as a ermaid Barbie
- Marisa Abela
- McKenna Roberts
- Oliver Vaquer
- Anne Hathaway
- Helen Mirren as a The Narrator
- Caroline Wilde
- Patrick Luwis
- Kathryn Akin
Barbie’s upcoming film release was accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign that included various partnerships and collaborations with well-known brands. Mattel, the company behind Barbie, has joined forces with GAP, Aldo, Forever 21, Primark, Hot Topic, Spirit Halloween, Bloomingdale’s, Chi Haircare, Ulta and Xbox, among others. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of the studio producing the film, also promoted it through summer programming on its cable networks. They even aired a Barbie-themed reality competition series called Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge on HGTV. In the Philippines, Warner Bros. and Mattel collaborated with Krispy Kreme Donuts to create two new donuts (the original and the Barbie version) and a limited edition Cotton Candy Chiller to promote the film.
The first look at the film was revealed in April 2022 during a presentation at CinemaCon. The image featured Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, sitting in a pink 1956 Chevrolet Corvette. Public response was positive, with Collider praising Robbie’s resemblance to a real-life Barbie doll. In June 2022, a second image was released showing Ryan Gosling as Ken. The Guardian suggested that this role could become Gosling’s most memorable.
To generate excitement, a Barbie booth was set up at the CCXP event in São Paulo, Brazil. The first trailer was released in December 2022 before the screenings of Avatar: The Way of Water. The trailer paid homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey, with Robbie dressed in Barbie’s original outfit, imitating an alien monolith. It featured narration by Helen Mirren, highlighting Barbie’s influence on doll history. Rolling Stone praised the trailer’s homage and vibrant visuals.
In April 2023, character posters of various Barbies and Kens from the film were shared on Barbie’s social media accounts. Empire highlighted the film’s exploration of the multiverse concept through the many variants of Barbie and Ken. Another teaser trailer followed, featuring a rendition of the Beach Boys song “Fun, Fun, Fun”. The Washington Post highlighted the humorous and visually striking elements of the teaser, which appeal to multiple demographics.
The official trailer for the film was released in May 2023. Critics noted its existential tone accompanied by upbeat music. Empire’s Ben Travis praised its flawless visual design and speculated about possible Academy Award recognition.
To engage with the LGBTQ+ community, a Barbie-themed float was displayed at the 2023 WeHo Pride parade, featuring Alexandra Shipp and Scott Evans, two LGBTQ+ stars from the film.
In June 2023, a French Barbie poster went viral because of Barbie’s tagline, which included a pun with potentially explicit connotations. The catchphrase’s pun, involving the verlan slang term for “fuck”, sparked speculation about its intentional nature, as the term is widely known among French-speakers. However, Warner Bros. neither confirmed nor denied the intent behind the pun.
