Margot Robbie's Surprising Condition Before Embarking on the Iconic Role of Barbie

Margot Robbie's association with Barbie has become undeniable, yet the actress had a crucial condition prior to accepting the role of the iconic doll in Greta Gerwig's upcoming film.

In a cover story for TIME magazine published on Tuesday, June 27, the 32-year-old I, Tonya star revealed that she only agreed to take on the role if Mattel assured her that she wouldn't be the sole representation of Barbie in the movie. "If [Mattel] hadn't made the decision to include multiple Barbies, I wouldn't have been interested in making a Barbie film," she asserted. "I firmly believe that Barbie should not be restricted to a single idealized version for women to emulate in terms of appearance and behavior."

While Robbie takes center stage in the film as the iconic blonde Barbie, donning her signature pink ensemble, the cast is filled with a plethora of other notable stars embodying different iterations of Barbie. In this unique ensemble, Issa Rae portrays President Barbie, Hari Nef embodies Doctor Barbie, and Alexandra Shipp brings Writer Barbie to life.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Rae expressed concerns that the movie might have a strong white feminist tone, but she believes it is self-aware. She explained that Barbie Land represents perfection, but if perfection is solely portrayed by white Barbies, it may not be relatable to everyone. Schumer was previously considered for the lead role but had to leave due to scheduling conflicts. Recently, she shared that she did not approve of the direction the Barbie movie was taking.

Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Schumer expressed her excitement to see the movie, describing it as "awesome." While she initially claimed that scheduling conflicts were the reason for her departure, she later revealed that creative differences played a significant role. However, she acknowledged that the movie now has a new team and appears to be both feminist and cool, which ultimately influenced her decision to watch it. When questioned by host Andy Cohen if her initial version didn't feel feminist and cool, Schumer affirmed and reiterated her enthusiasm.

Schumer came to the realization that the project was not suitable for her when Sony sent her a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels to commemorate her involvement. In a March 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Schumer expressed that she should have immediately recognized that the assumption that all women desire such a gift was incorrect. She also mentioned that Sony did not share her vision for the project and were unwilling to execute it in the manner she desired, which was the only way she was interested in pursuing it.

Barbie hits theaters on Friday, July 21.