The already impressive cast of Mattel and Warner Bros' upcoming Barbie movie continues to get bigger. Deadline reports that a slew of acclaimed actors are joining the star-studded ensemble that includes Margot Robbie as the titular character, Ryan Gosling as Barbie's boyfriend Ken, and many more.
The live-action Barbie film spent several years in development before Warner Bros acquired the rights, with comedian Amy Schumer set to star as the iconic character. Years later, Mattel Films revived the project and attached Robbie to star and produce through her LuckyChap Entertainment production company, which produced films such as 2017's I, Tonya and 2020's Birds of Prey. Soon enough, more high-level talent joined the project.
According to Deadline, the newest additions to the film's cast are Secret Invasion's Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Ncuti Gatwa, Oscar winner Emerald Fennell, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Connor Swindells, Ritu Arya, and Jamie Demetriou. Besides Robbie and Gosling, previously announced cast members include SNL star Kate Mckinnon, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Ariana Greenblatt, and Emma Mackey. Alexandra Shipp, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and Hari Nef are also set to star in Barbie in undisclosed roles.
While plot details remain under wraps, there's enough talent behind and in front of the camera for the Barbie live-action to be an interesting take on one of the world's most recognizable pop culture icons. Director Greta Gerwig has demonstrated her aptitude as a filmmaker and ability to write compelling characters in Oscar-nominated films like Ladybird and the Little Women remake. In the same way, Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote the script for Barbie alongside Gerwig, is known for his expertise when it comes to juggling comedy and drama, as seen in Frances Ha, The Meyerowitz Stories, and Marriage Story, the latter of which earned six Academy Award nominations.
Still, it remains unclear what the Barbie live-action will go for tone-wise. Nevertheless, whether the film adopts a comedic or dramatic approach, acclaimed actors like Robbie and Gosling will surely deliver powerful performances. Although they are mostly known for their dramatic chops, both Gosling and Robbie have great comedic timing, and pairing them up with renowned comedians like McKinnon and Ferrell will likely make Barbie a fun watch.
A release date for the film has not been announced yet, but it's expected to be released worldwide sometime in 2023. Barbie is currently in pre-production at Warner Bros. and will likely start shooting later this year.
Source: Deadline.