Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Film Set to Shatter Box Office Records with $1 Billion Guarantee

Margot Robbie. Broadimage/Shutterstock

Margot Robbie was determined to bring her vision to life through the production of Barbie, and she was prepared to go to great lengths to achieve it. According to the 33-year-old actress, she confidently expressed to Mattel and Warner Bros. that the film had the potential to generate a billion dollars, even though she may have exaggerated a bit. Nevertheless, Robbie's main focus was on successfully making the movie, and she managed to convince both companies to not only approve the script but also grant her creative autonomy.

Robbie, who serves as both the executive producer and the star of the film, used a comparison to successful blockbuster movies to pitch the comedy and secure its approval. In an interview published on Thursday, July 20, Robbie stated, "Studios have thrived when they are bold enough to pair a groundbreaking concept with a visionary director." Robbie then provided examples such as "Dinosaurs and Spielberg," referencing successful films that have generated significant profit for studios throughout the years. She concluded her pitch by saying, "And now you have Barbie and Greta Gerwig."

Barbie was originally intended to be written by screenwriter Diablo Cody and starring Amy Schumer. However, Cody, who is 45 years old, eventually left the project as she was unable to emotionally connect with the creative direction.

"I couldn't even complete an initial draft. I completely failed at that project. I genuinely could not write a script for Barbie. I gave it my all, but it just didn't happen," she explained to Screen Crush in 2018. "Honestly, during that time, I was also writing Tully and feeling extremely overwhelmed. I could only tap into something deeply personal. Don't get me wrong, I think a Barbie movie is incredibly exciting and I hope someone comes in and nails it."

Schumer dropped out because of scheduling conflicts, but later confessed it was due to creative differences. Robbie then joined forces with Gerwig and her partner, Noah Baumbach, who agreed to direct and write the script. Before the movie's release on July 21, Robbie expressed her concerns that no studio would be willing to embrace her unique vision.

"I was filled with fear, afraid that the answer would be a resounding no. Taking on this task was absolutely terrifying at the time. People couldn't believe it when I told them what I was planning," she disclosed to Vogue in May, speaking about her production company, LuckyChap, and its initial approach to Mattel about the project.

Robbie emphasized that, at that moment, there was no specific concept in mind. "Certainly, we wanted to pay tribute to the brand's 60-year history. However, we had to recognize that there are many individuals who are not fans of Barbie. Moreover, they don't just feel indifferent towards Barbie, but actively despise her and have genuine concerns. We must find a way to acknowledge and address these feelings," she explained.

Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig and America Ferrera. Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Eventually, both Warner Bros. and Mattel gave the green light to the concept, and Robbie eagerly stepped into the pink high heels. The cast was further strengthened by the addition of Will Ferrell, Dua Lipa, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, and Simu Liu. Robbie and Gerwig were thrilled to have their dream Ken, Ryan Gosling, on board.

"I watched that video [of Ryan halting a street fight in NYC] and was impressed by what a great guy he seemed to be. It was important to have a good-hearted person like Ryan play Ken because we would be working with a female director, and not all actors may be comfortable with that," Robbie shared with Gosling, 42, in a recent interview with India Today. She added, "You really have to have confidence in your own masculinity to embrace the Barbie experience as Ryan did."