Margot Robbie’s Next Movie Recruits A Marvel Leading Man
Now, as the world awaits Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's debut as America’s favorite couple on the big screen, one of Marvel’s current leading men has his eye’s set on the feature film.
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Barbie is not only the most popular fashion doll ever created, she’s a crucial part of pop culture. With her global recognition and countless memorable tropes, it’s hard to believe the blonde diva herself has yet to receive a major studio film. Now, as the world awaits Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s debut as America’s favorite couple on the big screen, one of Marvel’s current leading men, Simu Liu, has his eye’s set on the feature film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Simu Liu is in negotiations to join Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and America Ferrera in the Barbie movie at Warner Bros. The film, which has been in the works for years, will star Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling portraying Ken. With newcomers Simu Liu and America Ferrara only recently being attached to the project, their characters have not been revealed yet.
The announcement of casting Marvel’s Simu Liu adds to the tantalizing production team behind the project. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach wrote the script with Gerwig set to direct. Gerwig is currently one of Hollywood’s most sought out directors. The Academy-Award nominated filmmaker has previously helmed Lady Bird and Little Women. Other than lending her allure on camera, Margot Robbie will also produce the film via her LuckyChap production company.
With an impressive team announced so far, plot details for the upcoming live-action movie are still tightly under wraps. However, given the project’s long-gestating history and beloved names attached, fans can look forward to something completely unexpected, fresh, and hopefully captivating. Not your standard toy-to film adaptation, Barbie will likely draw on something more deep and powerful. Having an emotional attachment to the project, Margot Robbie spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about her portrayal of the style icon, saying, “Something like Barbie where the IP, the name itself, people immediately have an idea of, ‘Oh, Margot is playing Barbie, I know what that is,’ but our goal is to be like, ‘Whatever you’re thinking, we’re going to give you something totally different — the thing you didn’t know you wanted.”
Given Barbie’s tumultuous history, it makes sense that the film would make for the perfect drama. While life in plastic might seem fantastic, Barbie isn’t without her controversies. From body-image issues to diversity, there have been some bumps along the way, and Margot Robbie might display Barbie’s hardships through the film. Furthermore, Robbie Brenner, the executive producer of Mattel Films, explained that the movie, which was still very early in development at that point, would have a message that can make all your dreams come true and that it’s important “to push the boundaries.”
Following a diversity push from Barbie makers, Mattel, the company went through a relaunch in 2017. The Ken doll then received a makeover, creating countless pan-racial adaptations on the infamous blonde-haired blue-eyed doe. The casting of Simu Liu, an actor of Chinese descent, is likely to represent the diverse lineup Mattel promotes. Other than representation, the negotiations with Liu further cement the status of Barbie’s live-action adaptation. The 32-year-old Hollywood newcomer rose to prominence last year as the Marvel superhero Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He also played Jung Kim in the CBC Television sitcom Kim’s Convenience. Fans shouldn’t expect any images or trailers showcasing Margot Robbie and crew as the pop culture icons anytime soon, as the film is slated to come out sometime in 2023.
