Margot Robbie Stuns Fans as Radical Barbie Movie Defies All Expectations

Margot Robbie expressed surprise at Mattel's agreement to Greta Gerwig's unconventional Barbie movie concept, considering the lengthy development cycle of over a decade. Robbie, who leads the star-studded cast in the live-action adaptation, revealed that the film follows Barbie's journey to the real world with Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, after being banished from Barbieland due to an existential crisis. This marks the first live-action adaptation of the iconic doll, with multiple directors and actors being considered before Robbie and Gerwig took on the project, even though they themselves had fears of losing their roles. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Robbie discussed the challenges faced in bringing the movie to fruition and Gerwig's unique approach, admitting her surprise at Mattel's willingness to embrace their ideas.

I really wish we had recorded some of the initial conversations because they were incredibly hilarious. Surprisingly, some of those conversations actually made it into the movie in some form. However, I must say that Mattel was absolutely amazing. When I first read the script, I was convinced that we would never be able to make this movie. It's such a shame because the script is fantastic, but I believed that there was no way Mattel would agree to it.

But not only did they agree, they also played a significant role in the movie. They are portrayed as this exaggerated bridge between Barbieland and reality, which adds a surreal and comical element. It's important to note that they were fully aware of the jokes and humor we used. We were constantly poking fun and making humorous remarks. I simply cannot imagine any other large corporation with such valuable intellectual property, like Barbie, being so brave and supportive. They allowed us to say the things that Will Ferrell specifically wanted to say.

Yes, initially, they were a bit apprehensive. However, we reassured them, saying, "Don't worry, we're all in this together!" They had complete faith in Greta and the entire process. Since they had never adapted Mattel's intellectual property into films before, this was a significant undertaking. Nevertheless, their attitude remained remarkably positive throughout the entire experience.

How Gerwig's Barbie Vision Is Propelling The Movie To Success

Both Mattel and Warner Bros. have shown great confidence in Gerwig and Robbie's Barbie movie, which is undoubtedly a promising sign for fans of the adaptation. This confidence is also evident in its marketing strategy. The trailers have embraced the absurdity of a fully inhabited Barbieland, with an array of Barbies and Kens, including Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Emma Mackey, and Ncuti Gatwa. But beyond the hilarity, the trailers also hint at a deeper exploration of the doll's legacy in the real world, tapping into the emotional aspect.

While it would have been logical for WB to place the experimental project in a less competitive spot during the summer, the studio's confidence extends to Barbie's release as well. The movie will be released alongside Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One and Oppenheimer in July. There has been a discussion about which movie will emerge victorious, especially since Barbie is set to debut on the same weekend as Christopher Nolan's World War II biopic. However, early projections suggest that Barbie will outperform Oppenheimer. Tom Cruise has even responded humorously to the competition, expressing his excitement for the various options available to audiences and confirming his plans to watch both films.

Considering that both Oppenheimer and Barbie were made with $100 million production budgets and are projected to require at least $400 million in order to be profitable for their respective studios, it will be interesting to see how the box office battle unfolds in July. As Barbie garners more consistent interest and generates significant buzz on social media, it appears that the ultimate showdown will be between Robbie's subversive adaptation and Cruise's Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.