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‘Barbie’ Star Almost Missed Out On the Title Role

Margot Barbie Amy

The Barbie movie swept the internet with a handful of shiny promo images and a new trailer, a lot of positive feedback. The star-studded cast includes Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, and more familiar faces. However, the group consensus is that Margot Robbie was perfectly cast to play Barbie. No, the internet feels that Margot Robbie IS Barbie.

Margot Robbie as Barbie

IMDb

This is why so many were shocked to learn that she was not the first choice for the film transition to Barbie land. The role was originally given to American comedian Amy Schumer when she signed on to the project in 2016 while Sony Pictures was in control. The project was on and off for over a decade and changed partnerships a few times before landing with Warner Bros. Pictures. When Schumer joined in 2016, she was not only set to star as Barbie but to co-write the script as well.

BuzzFeed reported that after only four months she backed out of the project due to “scheduling conflicts,” which turned out to be code for deep creative differences. Schumer recognized herself as “wrong” for Barbie and couldn’t agree with Sony’s vision for the script at the time. Warner Bros. took over in 2018, Margot Robbie was cast in 2019, and Greta Gerwig didn’t come on for another two years after that!

Margot Robbie as Barbie

Warner Bros.

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Now that fans have seen bits and pieces of the Barbie project finally come to life, they are falling whole-heartedly behind Margot Robbie as the feminine and fun Mattel doll. Because Robbie’s Barbie feels like a piece fitting into a puzzle, audiences are having a hard time seeing Schumer in her place.

They took to the internet to share some thoughts:

“I’ve never been a religious person but when Amy Schumer was replaced by Margot Robbie for the Barbie [role] who was it that saved us? If not God then who?”

https://twitter.com/Super__Yan/status/1643302397823836189

“Woke up in a cold sweat thinking this could’ve bee Amy Schumer.”

https://twitter.com/sairated/status/1603707410115629056?s=42&t=8EVrXu7VI5fD_HfrcGKhdg

More importantly though:

“Amy Schumer wouldn’t have been great as Barbie not because of what she looks like but because she subscribes to the idea that pink and beauty and traditional femininity cannot be traits of a powerful woman.”

https://twitter.com/itzybitzyminnie/status/1643650667527938048?s=20

FilmUpdates says Anne Hathaway was considered as well! While neither Schumer of Hathaway will be in the film, fans can expect to see stars like Issa Rae, Dua Lipa, America Ferrera, Emma Mackey, Michael Cera, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell. What a Barbie world!

What do you think of all the buzz for the Barbie movie? Are you bringing your Barbie dolls to the theater with you?

About Lana Porter

Lana has never lost a Disney Trivia night. Maybe it’s the hundreds of times she’s been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, her love for Disney’s ’90’s era hand-animated musicals, or the fact that she’s often likened to cartoon characters, but Disney and its magic have a special place in her heart. Her favorite Disney experiences include the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, eating Mickey Bars on the PeopleMover, and crying during the Magic Kingdom fireworks show. One day she hopes to be chosen as the rebel spy on Star Tours. When Lana isn’t Park Hopping, she’s at home reading books of all topics, watching her favs on Disney+, or snuggling her two cats, which she swears are not named after Disney characters. She loves surprising people with her knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but admits she is still catching up with Star Wars. She is happy to combine her excitement for writing with her love for Disney-style storytelling and share what she can with the world!