Amy Schumer, the first chosen to play Barbie and her controversial exit. Although this project had been simmering for many, many years, it was not until 2016 when Sony began to seriously look into making 'Barbie'.
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".
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. Robbie is a producer on “Barbie” and did not immediately envision herself in the role.
Before Margot Robbie was cast as the lead in "Barbie," Amy Schumer was originally meant to star in the movie. Years before the project moved to Warner Bros., Schumer was attached to lead a Barbie movie in development at Sony, with a script written by Hilary Winston.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
The Big Picture. Director Greta Gerwig reveals that she saw Ryan Gosling's comedic talent on Saturday Night Live and knew he was perfect for the role of Ken in Barbie. Gosling's participation on SNL showcased his knack for comedy, particularly in sketches like "Papyrus" where he displayed his deadpan delivery.
Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang, Schitt's Creek's Dan Levy, and Dear Evan Hansen's Ben Platt were in the running when the Greta Gerwig-helmed film was starting to round up its cast. Courtesy Warner Bros. "They were, I'm not kidding, really bummed they couldn't do it," casting director Allison Jones said.
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.
Mattel didn't have a strong case for copyright infringement, since the "Barbie Girl" video doesn't contain any actual Barbie dolls or images, but the company sued over the use of the trademarked word “Barbie” and the use of “Barbie pink,” a trademarked color.
One of the characters in the movie is a pregnant Midge, who is played by Emerald Fennell and is based on a real doll. The controversial pregnant Midge doll was released by Mattel in 2002 and caused outrage among parents who believed it promoted teen pregnancy.
“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.
Jonathan Groff was the first choice to play Allan in Barbie. However, Michael Cera was the better option, as the role plays into the type of character that Cera is known for.
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.
Weird Barbie, portrayed by Kate McKinnon, is seen as a shaman figure and the keeper of everyone's hidden weirdness, bringing an asymmetrical and messed up side to Barbie's perfect image.
