The Surprising Connection between Ryan Gosling and 'The Bachelorette' Men Revealed by Greta Gerwig

Ryan Gosling and Greta Gerwig Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock (2)

During the "SmartLess" podcast episode on Monday, July 31, Greta Gerwig discussed how Ryan Gosling drew inspiration from reality TV show The Bachelorette when developing the character of Ken for the Barbie movie. Gosling pointed out that the behavior of the contestants on The Bachelorette, particularly when the woman is not present, reminded him of how Kens interact. They compete with each other, engage in activities like push-ups, and get defensive if someone else tries to imitate their unique traits, such as wearing glasses.

Gerwig recognized Gosling's natural understanding of the character Ken as one of the factors that made him the perfect choice for the role.

"We had Margot Robbie in mind when we wrote the character of Barbie, so it made sense to cast Ryan while writing the script. We even included his name in the script itself. I just had this intuitive feeling that he would be the right fit," Gerwig shared during the episode. "When we presented the script to the studio, they were impressed that I knew Ryan personally. But truth be told, I had never actually met him before." She continued, "However, there are certain actors who possess an innate sense of comedic timing, regardless of their background in comedy. You can just sense that they have a natural knack for what's funny. That's something I always felt about him."

Gerwig admitted that she had to depend on Gosling, 42, for information about The Bachelor franchise. However, she confessed that she would most likely enjoy it all because she is a huge fan of reality TV, particularly dating shows.

"I absolutely adore Love Is Blind," she exclaimed to hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. "I derive immense joy from watching people find love on television and in their hearts."

Hayes, 53, mentioned that one couple, Lauren and Cameron Hamilton, from the Netflix series are still together after getting married in season 1. Gerwig admitted to following their love story and shared that they are doing great. Arnett, 53, also wished them well. Gerwig added that she enjoys reading and watching movies with her partner Noah Baumbach, but hasn't had much time for it recently. The film Barbie, released on July 21, earned $162 million on its opening weekend, which nearly doubled the box office numbers of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, also released on the same day. The success of these two blockbusters made for the biggest opening weekend of the year, dubbed Barbenheimer.

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Having directed successful films like Ladybird and the recent adaptation of Little Women, Gerwig finds herself facing nerves as she delves into her next venture. She will not only be writing, but also directing at least two of the forthcoming Chronicles of Narnia films. This is an exciting opportunity for her, despite the lingering anxieties.

The movies, which are based on the beloved novels by C.S. Lewis, are set to premiere on Netflix and will mark Gerwig's foray into the fantasy genre. Rather than being overwhelmed by the pressure, Gerwig views it as a positive force.

"I haven't fully wrapped my head around it yet, but I embrace the fear. It's a promising starting point," Gerwig shared on the "Total Film" podcast episode aired on Thursday, July 20. "I believe that when I'm afraid, it indicates that I'm onto something worthwhile. Perhaps if the fear dissipates, it may signal that it's not the right project for me. No, I'm genuinely terrified, in an extraordinary and exhilarating way."

She expressed her desire to create a diverse range of films throughout her filmmaking career, emphasizing that although it is a lengthy but limited timeframe, she aims to tackle both ambitious and modest projects. The prospect of having another expansive platform is both thrilling and challenging for her.