Everything We Know About the Barbie Movie So Far

Everything We Know About The Barbie Movie So Far

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing everything we know about the “Barbie” movie so far.

For this video, we’ll be looking at the most interesting pieces of information available about this upcoming flick.

What do you hope to see in the Barbie movie? Let us know in the comments!

If you feel like you’ve been hearing about a live-action movie centering on the Barbie doll for ages, it’s because you have. Mattel has been trying to get this project made since, brace yourself, 2009. However, that initial iteration, from Universal Pictures, never went anywhere. So if Universal couldn’t make it work, maybe Sony could? Sadly, that was also a bust, despite names like Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway being attached to the project at various points. But you know what they say, the third time’s the charm! After Sony’s option ran out, Warner Bros. took over. Now, “Barbie”’s struggles finally seem to be a thing of the past. Circle your calendars, because the flick is set to hit our screens on July 21st, 2023.

But what is it exactly that we’re all holding our breaths for? Let’s take a look.

To understand this motion picture, we have to head behind the scenes to see who’s envisioning its universe. After all, the minds driving a feature can make or break it. Thankfully, Greta Gerwig is the director here, and co-wrote the movie with her longtime collaborator Noah Baumbach (BOWm, like performance, back). In other words, our beloved Barbie is in the hands of some extremely talented visionaries.

As you may know, Gerwig isn’t just any run of the mill director. She has an uncanny ability to take any concept, new or old, and make it feel fresh and relevant to the times. “Lady Bird” and the 2019 “Little Women” remake, both of which she wrote and directed, are shining examples of that! Plus, there’s just no denying that she and Baumbach make movie gold together. Projects like “Frances Ha” that they’ve teamed up on make it obvious that the screenplay will be subversive, thoughtful, and spectacular.

With them leading the charge, we’re confident that the “Barbie” movie won’t endorse – or ignore – the more problematic elements of the doll, like the unrealistic body image standards it perpetuates. Instead, we imagine it’ll spotlight them for what they are, while modernizing the story to send an empowering message. Still, we’re sure it’ll also tap into the love and nostalgia associated with the brand, tugging at our heartstrings in the process.

Of course, once the creative team is established, you need stellar actors to bring it all to life. And boy does this movie deliver on that front.

Indeed, to say the cast is star-studded would be an understatement. To start, we have none other than Margot Robbie as Barbie. The Oscar-nominated actress notably blew us away with her portrayal of Tonya Harding in “I, Tonya.” And if her turn as the figure skater didn’t convince you, we’re betting her roles in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Bombshell” did. Or maybe you’re a fan of her Harley Quinn projects. There’s simply no part Robbie can’t bring to life with honesty and nuance, so she’s a perfect choice to embody the titular doll.

Now, we all know that where Barbie goes, Ken will follow. Who better than Ryan Gosling for the part? That’s right, the actor signed on to play the all important role back in October 2021. From “The Notebook,” to “Crazy, Stupid, Love” to “La La Land”, Gosling has proven that he knows how to portray a compelling romantic lead. We have a feeling he’ll do better than fine in “Barbie.”

Naturally, every good flick needs a great villain. Could this movie’s big bad be Will Ferrell? When he joined the cast, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that he would be portraying the CEO of, you guessed it, a toy company. If true, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be up to no good, but it does make it seem likely. Regardless, Ferrell has the range to play anyone from a naively hilarious human who grew up as an elf to an animated supervillain. We’re majorly excited to see him and his sense of humor in action.

This may be hard to believe, but we’ve still barely scratched the surface of the diverse A-list names on the call sheet. We’re talking stars including Alexandra Shipp, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, and Hari Nef. America Ferrera, Rhea Perlman, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, and Scott Evans are also among those set to appear. Details surrounding these celebrities’ roles in the movie have largely been kept under wraps. Rae, Nef, Mackey, Gatwa and Liu are rumored to have particularly interesting parts that could change everything. We’ll get to that shortly.

Considering the Barbie name and franchise’s huge legacy and popularity, there’s no doubt these are the right people for the job.

By this point, you’re probably wondering what “Barbie” will be about. Specifics surrounding the plot seem to be under lock and key, but that doesn’t mean intriguing details haven’t emerged!

Remember that failed Sony take on the movie we touched upon earlier? Well, Deadline reported that it was supposed to focus on our title character being forced to leave “Barbieland,” and finding herself in ways she never thought possible. There’s no word on whether any parts of that concept carried over into the current story, but never say never!

What’s more, tweets by reporter Kyle Buchanan suggest that the movie will feature not just one Barbie and Ken, but many! That’s where the likes of Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Ncuti Gatwa and Simu Liu notably come in. And they may not be the only ones. While nothing is official, Emma Mackey said in an interview that they had a “sleepover for the Barbies.” That sounds like confirmation that she’ll be among a group of dolls to us! Meanwhile, Liu has talked about waxing his chest for the movie, which lends credence to the idea that he'll be part of the toy world. One Barbie and Ken duo is definitely good, but multiple? That would be fantastic.

While we anxiously await the film’s premiere, there are plenty of visuals keeping us well fed. First, we have the official images of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in character. She’s in a pink convertible with epic old-school accessories, looking like she’s having the time of her life. He’s giving us an iconic heartthrob smile, rocking his best bleach blonde hair, a denim ensemble, and personalized underwear. Is it just us, or do these two look like carbon copies of the dolls from our childhoods?!

But that’s not all. A number of additional pictures and videos from the set have found their way online, giving us an even bigger glimpse at what we can expect. We’re particularly fond of all the lively roller skating shots that have emerged! We’d also be remiss not to mention the amazing country looks Robbie and Gosling have been spotted wearing. Needless to say, this movie will surely have plenty of style and substance.

We may not have all the pieces of the puzzle yet, but everything we do know is extremely promising. July 2023 can’t possibly come fast enough!