Barbie land has been a long time coming.
With Barbie being one of pop culture’s most influential staples, since as far back as 1959 when the doll first debuted. Why has it taken a colossal period of over 6 decades to reimagine the IP for the big screen and more so, in live action?.
The story in all its detail has so many layers to it, Hollywood might as well just cash in on the controversies and make a biopic about it. Because it is infact that extensive.
But to articulate what the main talking points about the journey entailed.
We begin in the mid-2010s. Specifically in 2016. As this was the time that saw a passable script come into existence with key players attached to bringing the project to life (on the crew side of things). On the cast side however, Amy Schumer was set to portray the titular doll. But a conflict of interest caused the unapologetically comedic voice to walk away from the project. She was however, soon succeeded by Anne Hathaway who for reasons unexplained still didn’t get opportunity of portraying the titular doll.
At this point, it felt like Mattel’s most prized IP simply didn’t have the fortune needed to grace the screens of cinema halls. That is until 2018, when the current Mattel CEO would take over and his forward thinking would lead him to bring on board the names that are now going to be associated with the Barbie mythos forever.
Specifically, it has been pointed out that Greta Gerwig’s childhood adoration for Barbie (like with so many young kids/girls) helped her develop a story that had just the right sensibilities the company was aiming for — in their earlier attempts to bring the doll to life. And because of this, in addition to co-developing a script worth appreciating. She was also made the director of the project. While all this was happening, Margot Robbie (who will be playing the titular doll) was very well in the mix. In fact having come in earlier than Gerwig, with her production company, Luckychap Entertainment set to produce the picture. So long as the project was still in play.
It certainly has been an uneasy road for a property whose major appeal was that it inspired perfection.
A concept which over the years has been used to also degrade the property’s worth. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop Mattel from trying to course-correct ever so often.
With a cinematic universe planned consisting of the company’s other IPs. Everything [seemingly] hinges on how well society will receive Barbie’s induction to the big screen.
An IP whose challenged cinematic fate has no doubt played a part in what Greta Gerwig and Company have eventually cooked up.
Barbie opens in Cinemas July 21, 2023.
