Director Gerwig is currently on track to break the billion-dollar barrier at the box office, making her the first female film-maker to achieve the feat solo.
Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the satirical movie follows Robbie’s titular lead as she suffers an existential crisis when she has to leave the carefree Barbie land and enter the so-called ‘real world’.
The success of the film is in part down to a mammoth marketing push by Warner Bros., its feminist takedown of the patriarchy, and a stellar cast which also includes Ncuti Gatwa, Issa Rae, Michael Cera and America Ferrera.
Barbie has grossed more than $774 million (£609m) at the global box office since its release on 21st July and earned almost $100m in the United States on its second weekend.
Despite initial casting doubts over Gosling, there’s been plenty of buzz around the leading man following the release of the latest trailer, while early watchers of the film have labelled the actor as the standout star of the movie.
There’s also plenty of hype around the movie’s soundtrack, which features the likes of HAIM, Ice Spice and Tame Impala.
Read on for everything you need to know about the live-action adaptation of Barbie, including when we can expect it to land and who else will star.
Barbie movie 2023 release date
Barbie drove into cinemas on Friday 21st July 2023.
Robbie confirmed the live-action film adaptation in July 2019, with Gerwig and Baumbach co-writing the script. Gerwig was later announced to be helming the project.
The film was originally in development at Sony from 2014, with Amy Schumer previously attached to star in the movie.
Schumer departed due to “scheduling conflicts” for her film I Feel Pretty, before later revealing there had been creative differences behind the scenes for the vision of Barbie.
After going around in circles in development at Sony, Barbie headed over to Warner Bros in 2018, with Robbie headlining the new production.
Who stars in the Barbie movie alongside Margot Robbie?
Margot Robbie stars as one version of the world’s most famous doll.
Robbie, who has teamed up with Warner Bros and Mattel not only as the film’s main star but also co-producer, previously told Variety: “Playing with Barbie promotes confidence, curiosity and communication throughout a child’s journey to self-discovery.
“Over the brand’s almost 60 years, Barbie has empowered kids to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president. I’m so honoured to take on this role and produce a film that I believe will have a tremendously positive impact on children and audiences worldwide.”
Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros Pictures Group, said Robbie was “the ideal producer and actress to bring Barbie to life on screen in a fresh and relevant way for today’s audiences”.
Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling portrays one version of Ken.
But Robbie and Gosling won’t be the only Barbies and Kens in town. Posters for the movie have been released, revealing a vast array of other versions of the characters, including ones played by Dua Lipa and Simu Liu.
The posters also reveal the different careers the many barbies have chosen, such as president (Issa Rae), lawyer (Sharon Rooney) and mermaid (Dua Lipa), among others.
Helen Mirren has also joined the cast, with her poster revealing she will serve as narrator.
The posters also reveal that Michael Cera and Emerald Fennell will be playing Alan and Midge, the best friends of Ken and Barbie, respectively.
The following cast members are set to appear in the Barbie movie:
- Margot Robbie as Barbie
- Ryan Gosling as Ken
- Will Ferrell as the CEO of the toy company
- Michael Cera as Allan
- Emerald Fennell As Midge
- Dua Lipa as Mermaid Barbie
- Issa Rae as President Barbie
- Jamie Demetriou as a toy company employee
- Helen Mirren as the narrator
- Connor Swindells as a toy company intern
- Emma Mackey as physicist Barbie
- Alexandra Shipp as writer Barbie
- Kate McKinnon as gymnast Barbie
- Ana Cruz Kayne as judge Barbie
- Ritu Arya as journalist Barbie
- Nicola Coughlan as diplomat Barbie
- Hari Nef as doctor Barbie
- Sharon Rooney as lawyer Barbie
- Simu Liu as a different Ken
- Scott Evans as a different Ken
- Ncuti Gatwa as a different Ken
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as a different Ken
John Cena (The Suicide Squad), Marisa Abela (Industry), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Ariana Greenblatt (Stuck in the Middle), Rhea Perlman (Cheers) have also joined the cast in as-yet-undisclosed roles.
What is the Barbie movie about?
A synopsis for the movie reveals that Robbie’s Barbie doll is expelled from Barbie Land “for not being perfect enough”, leading to the doll setting off on “an adventure in the real world.”
This could be where the human characters could come into play, but with the plot still largely being kept under wraps, fans will have to wait and see.
With multiple versions of Barbie and Ken set to appear, fans could well be in for a Barbie multiverse.
This would of course be on-brand for Barbie – which has created many dolls over the years that have celebrated people of all different genders, shapes, sizes and ethnicities.
Robbie previously teased to The Hollywood Reporter that Barbie will be “the thing you didn’t know you wanted”.
Is there a trailer for the Barbie movie?
Yes, and you can watch below:
Barbie arrives in cinemas on Friday 21st July 2023. Visit our Film hub for more news and features or find something to watch tonight with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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