After Schumer dropped out of the movie, Anne Hathaway was cast as Barbie, with "Ocean's 8" writer Olivia Milch taking over to write the script. However, Sony's deal with Mattel to create the movie expired in 2018, and the rights were returned to the toy company.
The original Barbie in question? Amy Schumer. Schumer was originally cast as Barbie back in 2016 when the film was a completely different project, co-written by Schumer herself. But she walked away from the film months later citing "scheduling conflicts".
Dan Levy, Ben Platt, Bowen Yang, Luke MacFarlane, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Jonathan Groff, Gal Gadot, Amy Schumer, and Anne Hathaway were all considered for roles in Barbie, but all had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts or creative differences.
But there were even more familiar faces that almost joined the cast. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Barbie's casting directors Allison Jones and Lucy Bevan very casually revealed three other Hollywood A-listers who turned down the role of Ken: namely Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben Platt.
Was Amy Schumer supposed to be in the Barbie movie?
In 2016, the comedian, 42, was cast in the titular role for a Barbie movie being planned by Sony Pictures. Schumer departed the role in 2017, and the project ultimately fell through with the rights ending up with Warner Bros.
Amy Schumer Reveals Why She Dropped Out Of Star Role In Barbie Movie. Schumer was initially set to play Barbie when Sony Pictures had the rights to the film in 2016. Amy Schumer revealed that “creative differences” led her to walk away from a starring role as Barbie in the initial film of the same name.
She told Variety that she was "no longer able to commit to Barbie due to scheduling conflicts," but that proved to be a kinder response to what really happened. In 2022, Schumer further explained that she and the studio did not agree on Barbie's character.
Margot Robbie revealed she tried to cast Israeli beauty queen Gal Gadot in her upcoming blockbuster because she had such strong “Barbie energy,” but the actress turned her down.
The logistics of spending months in the U.K., where most of the movie was filmed, meant Bowen Yang, Dan Levy and Ben Platt couldn't sign on to the film, Bevan and Jones said. "They were, I'm not kidding, really bummed they couldn't do it," Jones said.
Matt Bomer turned down playing Ken in 'Barbie'. Despite auditioning to play the doll in Greta Gerwig's live-action blockbuster based on the famous Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken, the 46-year-old star rejected the part, “choosing not to spend extensive time away from his family."
Anne Hathaway was approached and was also meant to lead the role of Barbie after issues of creative differences emerged with Amy Schumer, but later the film was slated to release in 2020 according to the deadline and hence never worked out.
In Greta Gerwig's just-released film, Greenblatt plays Sasha, an angsty Gen Z tween who lost interest in Barbies long ago and is the daughter of Gloria (America Ferrera). “She is a very layered girl,” Greenblatt says of her character.
A look at the soundtrack answers that question: Ryan does in fact sing the original song, "I'm Just Ken." When you hear the heartfelt lyrics, "I'm just Ken (And I'm enough) And I'm great at doing stuff," know that it is Ryan's voice you're hearing.
Barbie's Ryan Gosling Was Always the First Choice for Ken - IMDb. Ryan Gosling was reportedly Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's first choice to play Ken in Barbie.
And then there's ex-pro wrestler-turned-actor John Cena, who also plays a Ken in “Barbie”: Merman Ken, or Kenmaid, to be exact. Talking to FM104 presenter Crossy, Margot Robbie said the cameo in the film happened entirely by chance.
How Much Was Margot Robbie Paid For The Barbie Movie - IMDb. Margot Robbie's salary for the Barbie movie was reported to be $12.5 million, matching Ryan Gosling's pay to play Ken. Robbie's involvement in making the Barbie movie happen, along with her star power, explains her high salary.
“Pregnant Barbie” is actually Margaret Hadley Sherwood, or Midge, as her friends call her. Midge was created to be a less glam, more relatable Barbie, per Buzzfeed News. The doll was launched in 1963 as Barbie's bestie. She had freckles and red hair, and she wore less makeup than Barbie did.
Robbie is a producer on “Barbie” and did not immediately envision herself in the role. Gadot was at the top of her list, but scheduling conflicts prevented the “Wonder Woman” star from entering Barbieland.
Alas, they never got to move into Barbie Land's countless Dream homes or turn them into Ken's brewski-peddling mojo dojo casa houses. Daniel Levy, left, Bowen Yang and Ben Platt were considered for Ken roles in “Barbie.” “They were, I'm not kidding, really bummed they couldn't do it,” Jones told Vanity Fair.
“The most commonly identified reason for not wanting to play with the curvy doll was her larger size,” Dr Harriger said. Curvy Barbie is similar in height to petite Barbie, but has a more rounded stomach, thicker legs and no gap between her thighs. She is still larger than the average woman.
Kenneth Sean "Ken" Carson is a fashion doll introduced by American toy company Mattel in 1961 as the counterpart of Barbie, who had been introduced two years earlier.
Perhaps the most enduring criticism of Barbie is the unrealistic body standards that she presents to girls. With her impossibly tiny waist and ample bosom, it's really no surprise that Handler borrowed so heavily from a sex doll.
Kelly was introduced in 1995 and retired in 2010. She was replaced by Chelsea in 2011. According to Chelsea's official Mattel introduction, Kelly and Chelsea are the same character, only with a new name. Kelly's body style changed around late 2008 to have less short and stubby arms and look older.
Amy Schumer explained why she was replaced by Margot Robbie as the iconic doll in Barbie. Schumer, who was attached to the role of Barbie years ago, told Vulture that she left the project because of creative differences. "I think we said it was scheduling conflicts," she claimed.
