From the fashionable press tour to the endless product collaborations, and even pop-up experiences, it's safe to say we're living in a 'Barbie' world this summer. Fitting with the nostalgia Barbie evokes, The Hollywood Reporter taking a trip in her corvette down memory lane to recount the film's journey to the big screen and the Road to 'Barbie'.
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00:00 from the fashionable press tour
00:01 to the endless product collaborations,
00:04 and even pop-up experiences like this one,
00:06 World of Barbie in Los Angeles.
00:08 It's safe to say we're living in a Barbie world this summer.
00:11 - Hi Barbie!
00:13 - Hi Ken!
00:14 - Fitting with the nostalgia Barbie evokes,
00:16 we're taking a trip in her Corvette down memory lane
00:18 to recount the film's journey to the big screen
00:20 and the road to Barbie.
00:22 Mattel, the makers of Barbie,
00:24 signed a deal with Universal Pictures
00:25 to make a film about the iconic doll in 2009,
00:28 but that project fell through.
00:30 Then in 2014, Sony acquired the rights.
00:32 The film saw a series of writers
00:34 take a crack at the script,
00:35 including Sex and the City writer Jenny Bix
00:37 and Diablo Cody.
00:39 In late 2016, Amy Schumer was tapped to star
00:41 in the live-action Barbie film,
00:43 which was described as a fish-out-of-water tale,
00:45 and she took a pass at co-writing the script.
00:47 But four months later in early 2017,
00:49 she dropped out of the project,
00:51 citing scheduling conflicts.
00:52 She later told The Hollywood Reporter
00:54 during a 2022 Cover Story interview,
00:56 "They didn't want to do it the way I wanted to do it,
00:58 "the only way I was interested in doing it."
01:00 Then Anne Hathaway was cast as Barbie during summer 2017,
01:04 but that version of the project
01:05 also ended up falling apart.
01:07 Sony's option on Barbie expired in 2018,
01:09 and the rights were later transferred to Warner Brothers,
01:11 its current studio.
01:12 Fast forward to April 2019,
01:14 it was announced that Margot Robbie would play Barbie,
01:17 as well as co-produce the movie
01:18 through her Lucky Chap Entertainment banner.
01:20 Filmmaker Greta Gerwig jumped on board in July 2021,
01:23 with Ryan Gosling being officially cast as Ken
01:26 in October of that year,
01:27 and more casting announcements like Issa Rae
01:30 and Simu Liu to follow.
01:31 In April 2022, Warner Brothers gave us our first look
01:34 at Robbie as the iconic doll with this image.
01:36 And a few months later in June 2022,
01:38 we got our first official sneak peek at Gosling as Ken.
01:41 That same month, the pair lit up social media
01:43 when they were spotted filming this rollerblading scene
01:46 on Venice Beach, along with other parts of the movie,
01:48 all while donning amazing outfits.
01:50 At the July 2022 premiere of Gosling's action film,
01:53 "The Gray Man," we had to ask him about it.
01:55 - And are you ready to inspire
01:56 a lot of Halloween costumes this year?
01:58 - This is my dream.
02:00 It's always, I've always wanted to make a character
02:02 that people might go out for Halloween in.
02:04 - The first footage of the film debuted in December 2022,
02:07 and after a second teaser in April 2023,
02:10 the first full trailer finally dropped in May.
02:12 - You can go back to your regular life,
02:14 or you can know the truth about the universe.
02:17 The choice is now yours.
02:19 - The first one, the high heel.
02:21 - You have to want to know, okay?
02:22 Do it again.
02:23 - Barbie mania kicked into high gear
02:24 during the film's press tour,
02:26 with Robbie rocking red carpet looks
02:27 inspired by outfits worn by actual Barbie dolls,
02:31 like Totally Hair Barbie and Barbie Solo in the Spotlight.
02:34 Not to mention the Barbie product collaborations
02:36 with everywhere from Gap to Crocs to Pinkberry
02:39 to Burger King and so many more.
02:42 Barbie fans can even stay in her Malibu dream house.
02:44 The home, which was previously listed on Airbnb in 2019,
02:48 has been remodeled and relisted on the site
02:50 by none other than Ken to coincide
02:53 with the release of the film.
02:54 Now the wait to visit Barbie land is almost over.
02:57 Barbie drives into theaters on July 21st.
02:59 For much more on the Barbie movie, head to thr.com.
03:02 For the Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.
03:05 (upbeat music)
03:08 (upbeat music)