The upcoming film “Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, is the first live-action Barbie movie after several computer-animated direct-to-video and streaming television films. The movie is based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel from Ruth Handler, and the cast stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken. The film also includes a supporting ensemble cast including Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Kate McKinnon.
The film’s premise is that after being expelled from “Barbieland” for being a less-than-perfect doll, Barbie sets off for the human world to find true happiness.
Development on a film based on the Barbie toy line began in September 2009 when Mattel signed a partnership to develop the project with Universal Pictures and Laurence Mark as producers. In April 2014, Mattel teamed with Sony Pictures to produce the film, and Jenny Bicks was set to write the screenplay. Diablo Cody was brought onto the project in March 2015 to rewrite the screenplay, and Amy Pascal joined the producing team. Sony had rewrites done to the screenplay later that year, hiring Lindsey Beer, Bert V. Royal, and Hillary Winston to write drafts. However, the expiration of Sony’s option on the project in October 2018 and its transfer to Warner Bros. Pictures saw Hathaway, Jones, Macdonald, Parkes, and Pascal depart.
Margot Robbie entered early talks for the role, and Patty Jenkins briefly circled the director position. Robbie’s casting was confirmed in July 2019, and Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach penned the screenplay. Gerwig would sign on to also direct the film in July 2021.
In October, Ryan Gosling entered final negotiations to play Ken in the film. The rest of the cast was confirmed to star in the first half of 2022. Filming began in March in England, wrapping in July. “Barbie” is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and the United States on July 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
