Fans of the long-awaited Barbie film can get ready to head to Malibu, as Warner Bros. Pictures has finally shared a small first look at the new version of the iconic character.
Barbie was originally put into development in 2014 and went through many delays, that other films might not have come out of. The project was moved from Sony to Warner Bros., and names like Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway were in talks to star before finally settling on Margot Robbie as the title character in 2019. It wasn't until 2021 that things started to come together for Barbie, adding dynamic duo Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach as screenwriters with Gerwig also directing.
Details on what to expect from the film are still largely clouded, with nothing given on the plot or characters the majority of the cast are playing. What was given at CinemaCon 2022, is an extensive list of supporting cast with some huge names, a release date, and perhaps the most important element-- a real look at what Robbie will look like as Barbie. The photo is very simple, but anyone who knows the character will find this imagery very recognizable. She has signature blonde hair, a California-looking setting, and pink everywhere.
The film is of course based on the eternally popular Mattel character, Barbie. While originally just a blonde doll named Barbie introduced in 1959, the character has exploded into a media giant. There are a whole host of diverse characters in the Barbie universe, and she's gone on to star in many films and television shows as well as a popular YouTube channel. While there have been some criticisms of the character for being ultra-feminine and promoting unrealistic body ideals for young girls, later years have turned Barbie into a feminist icon. Some evidence points to the upcoming film embracing that new title.
While it's unknown what the movie's plot will be, there are some clues as to the tone it will take. Firstly, Greta Gerwig's film history and signature style tend to be very feminism-focused and often focus on strong female characters. Most notably, her Oscar-nominated works Little Women and Lady Bird really lean into this tone. Furthermore, Robbie herself has said that Barbie is designed to both honor the IP and surprise people, and that she also hopes to "provoke a thoughtful conversation."
Alongside Robbie stars Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling as the infamous Ken. In the supporting cast, there are big names like Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, and Issa Rae, though their characters are at this point unknown.
Barbie will be released to theaters on July 21, 2023.
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures|Twitter