Warner Bros and Mattel have teamed up to produce a live-action film about the world’s most famous doll, Barbie. After multiple cast changes and various delays, the film is finally set to hit screens in July, and it’s already one of the most talked-about releases of the summer.
The film features a star-studded cast with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling taking the lead roles of Barbie and Ken. However, in the world of dolls, there isn’t just one Barbie, there are hundreds, and so the film also stars a range of other actors playing different versions of the iconic doll. Pop star Dua Lipa plays mermaid Barbie, Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan plays diplomat Barbie, and Ana Cruz Kayne plays Supreme Court Justice Barbie. Issa Rae, known for her role in Insecure, will play a president Barbie, and Emma Mackey, from Sex Education, portrays a Barbie with a Nobel Prize in physics.
Other stars in the film include British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon, Tick, Tick… Boom! star Alexandra Shipp, and Michael Cera, who appeared in Juno. The Crown’s Emerald Fennell stars as Midge, Barbie’s best friend, and Ncuti Gatwa, from Doctor Who, takes on the role of a guitar-playing Ken. Human characters will be played by America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Jamie Demetriou, and Connor Swindells. The film will also feature Dame Helen Mirren as the narrator.
The film is directed by Greta Gerwig, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for directing films such as Lady Bird and Little Women. Gerwig also co-wrote the Barbie script with her filmmaker partner, Noah Baumbach.
The sheer number of stars involved in the film and the character posters, which have been released for each of them, have prompted some hilarious memes on social media. Warner Bros even created a website that allowed fans to insert themselves into the posters in time for the trailer dropping. However, instead of inserting themselves, Twitter users have been imagining other unlikely characters who could appear in the Barbie Cinematic Universe.
The film’s production has been delayed due to various changes to the cast and creative team, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Comedian Amy Schumer was originally cast to play the titular doll, but dropped out in 2017 due to scheduling conflicts. Anne Hathaway was reportedly in talks to take over, but the role ultimately went to Margot Robbie, who was announced as the film’s star and producer in early 2019. The film’s director also changed several times before Greta Gerwig ultimately took over in July 2021.
The film is set for release on July 21, as a joint project between Warner Bros and Barbie manufacturer Mattel. While Mattel has previously seen animated adaptations including Barbie In The Nutcracker, Barbie As Rapunzel, and Barbie Of Swan Lake, the live-action adaptation of Barbie is likely to be the most high-profile and successful yet.
