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.
Schumer was the original choice for Barbie back in 2016 when the project was under the purview of Sony Pictures. However, she eventually left the project and the film rights to Barbie went to Warner Bros.
Popular on Variety. Given the $1 billion success of “Barbie,” it's hard to picture anyone in the title role other than Margot Robbie. But the actor explained to Vogue back in May that it was actually Gal Gadot who was her first choice to star as Barbie.
1 Anne Hathaway. After Amy Schumer dropped out, Sony wanted Anne Hathaway to play Barbie, so much that that studio even hired a writer to pen the screenplay to lure the actor in.
In March 2017, Schumer suddenly walked away from the project. 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: From Natural Beauty to Plastic Surgery Perfection
Why girls are rejecting the new curvy Barbie?
“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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Fans had no way of knowing that Barbie had an even more adult side: She was closely related to a German novelty toy. Barbie had a sister—Bild-Lilli, a racy doll marketed to men.
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.
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.
Schumer was originally cast as Barbie in 2016 but a year later she announced she was leaving the project, citing "scheduling conflicts." She explained the situation further during her chat with Cohen, admitting she actually left for a different reason. "I think we said it was scheduling conflicts," she revealed.
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.
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.
Ryan Gosling's role in Barbie was one of his highest-paying yet, earning him $12.5 million. Despite not playing the title character, Gosling's salary matching Margot Robbie's for Barbie shows the value of his performance and his importance to the film's marketing.
Gosling has been in a relationship with his The Place Beyond the Pines co-star Eva Mendes since September 2011. The couple have two daughters, born in 2014 and in 2016. Gosling is supportive of various social causes.
Because of COVID constraints, Barbie's cast had to spend three months in London, where much of the movie was shot—a logistical factor, they say, that put performers like Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben Platt out of the running.
Margot previously told Vogue in May that she had wanted Gal to take on the role due to her undeniable “Barbie energy.” Unfortunately, Gadot was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, and the rest, as they say, is history.
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.
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.
