Unveiling the Untold Truth: Mattel's Real Boss Breaks Silence on Will Ferrell's Barbie CEO Portrayal

Summary

One Mattel executive initially clashed with Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig over a particular scene but eventually became convinced of their brilliant creative direction for the movie.

Ferrell's performance as the villainous CEO is in line with his previous roles as unique corporate characters, captivating the audience and piquing their curiosity about Barbie's journey.

Mattel's real-life CEO, Ynon Kreiz, reacts to the fictionalized portrayal of the company's boss by Will Ferrell. Ferrell is just one part of an impressive ensemble cast, including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, Helen Mirren, and numerous other familiar faces. Greta Gerwig's Barbie film follows Robbie's doll as she embarks on a quest for purpose in the midst of an existential crisis, taking her from the artificial world of Barbieland to the unexplored territories of reality.

Mattel CEO Kreiz expressed his genuine opinions on Ferrell's portrayal of an unnamed fictionalized CEO, who could be considered somewhat of a villain, in the movie about the real company. In an interview with Variety, Kreiz commended the actor's comedic skills throughout his career and handled all the criticisms of the company depicted in the film with grace, despite making efforts to safeguard their brands' reputations. See Kreiz's complete response below:

"I've been a fan of Will's since the days of 'Zoolander.' The movie has a lot of humorous and self-deprecating elements, which we fully embrace. We take our brands and our work seriously, but we also know how important it is to not take ourselves too seriously."

Barbie's Mattel Storyline May Have Caused Conflicts, But Also Could Stand Out As A Fun Comedic Element

Despite Kreiz's assertion that the film encountered no resistance from the company, reports indicate that Mattel executives clashed with Robbie and Gerwig throughout the production of Barbie. Robbie was determined to create a film that went beyond mere promotion for the Barbie brand, leading to conflicts with higher-ups at the company. In fact, tensions escalated to the point where a Mattel executive had to intervene on set. However, Gerwig and Robbie were ultimately successful in convincing the executive to support their creative vision.

One could argue that Ferrell's portrayal of the anxious and exaggerated fictional CEO of Mattel allows him to play to his strengths as an actor. Throughout his career, Ferrell has excelled at embodying villainous corporate characters, as seen in his roles as fashion designer Mugatu in Zoolander and as Lord Business and The Man Upstairs in The LEGO Movie. In both cases, Ferrell infuses the roles with his own manic energy and eccentricities. Interestingly, the portrayal of Ferrell's Barbie Mattel CEO drew comparisons to Lord Business upon the release of the movie trailer, as both characters share a desire to exert control over their plastic worlds in order to fit their idealized visions.

Ferrell's portrayal of a villainous businessman in the movie didn't capture audiences' hearts as much as Gosling's character Ken did. However, viewers find Ferrell's attempts to capture Robbie's Barbie amusing, leading to Kreiz's praise for Ferrell's performance. This suggests that Ferrell was a great choice to play the fictionalized CEO of Mattel. Additionally, Kreiz's comments on how Barbie represents the toy company may intrigue moviegoers, making them even more interested to see how Robbie and Gerwig satirize Mattel's fictional leadership in the movie.