Greta Gerwig's upcoming Barbie has generated buzz since Margot Robbie was confirmed for the project in 2019. That same year, the Warner Bros. film brought in Greta Gerwig and partner Noah Bambacuh to pen the script. Gerwig, who received Oscar nominations for Lady Bird and Little Women, is directing the film.
While Barbie is one of the most anticipated films of 2023, Gerwig admitted during an appearance on Dua Lipa’s At Your Service podcast that the prospect of putting together the story was "terrifying." She told Lipa:
"That feeling that I had was knowing that it would be really interesting terror. Usually that’s where the best stuff is. I am terrified of that. Anything where you’re like, ‘This could be a career-ender,’ then you’re like, ‘OK, I probably should do it.'”
While little remains known about the upcoming film's plot, we do know that the film will feature multiple versions of Barbie, played by Robbie, Issa Rae and Hari Nef; and multiple versions of Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, Simu Lui and Ncuti Gatwa. Will Ferrell also recently confirmed his participation in the film portraying the CEO of Mattel, also adding that Barbie is deeper than what audiences may expect.
"It is in my humble opinion, the ultimate example of high art and low art. It’s a loving homage to the brand and, at the same time, couldn’t be more satirical – just an amazing comment on male patriarchy and women in society and why Barbie’s criticized and yet why every little girl still wants to play with Barbie. Boy, when I read it, I was like, 'This is fantastic,'" Ferell told WSJ Magazine.
The film also stars America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Jamie Demetriou, Emerald Fennell, Emma Mackey, and Connor Swindells. It is scheduled for release on July 21, 2023.
Greta Gerwig's Flourishing Career
Gerwig is an actress, screenwriter and director best known for her work on Academy Award nominated films Little Women and Lady Bird. She served as writer and director for both.
Gerwig rose to stardom after starring in Baumbach's Greenberg, opposite Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, in 2010. In 2012, she appeared in Woody Allen's To Rome with Love. The following year, she co-wrote Frances Ha with Baumbauch, and starred as the titular character, a portrayal that earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Baumbauch and Gerwig have collaborated on multiple films, and she stars in Baumbach's upcoming White Noise. The film, an adaptation of Don DeLillo's famous postmodern novel of the same name, is scheduled for release on Netflix on December 30, 2022. Gerwig has also penned the script for a live-action adaptation of Disney's Snow White that is scheduled for a 2024 release.