An image of Margot Robbie as Barbie has been released, and now it's difficult to imagine anyone else playing the lead role in the upcoming Barbie movie. The image, which was released as part of this year's Warner Bros. CinemaCon presentation, features Robbie in Barbie’s pink convertible, seemingly mid-giggle, her blonde hair perfectly coifed, nails manicured — the very picture of the iconic toy. And while Robbie was not originally slated to star in the movie, the casting change has made Barbie one of 2023’s most-anticipated films.
Little is known about the plot of Barbie, but Robbie is well-known for both her dramatic and comedic abilities and has a record of portraying deep characters with a sharp edge. Probably best known for her role as the DCEU’s Harley Quinn, Robbie has also played incredibly dynamic characters in Bombshell and I, Tonya, both of which earned her Academy Award nominations and cemented her status as one of the best actresses of her generation. As the titular lead of Barbie, one can only expect that the actress will continue her winning streak and transform the doll into a perfect-yet-flawed picture of modern femininity.
The Barbie movie has gone through many changes since its inception in 2014, shuffling writers, directors, and production companies along with its casting for the lead role. Originally intended to feature comedic actress Amy Schumer in the role, Margot Robbie’s casting in Barbie brought substantial change to the feel of the movie, creating expectations for a more dramatic, nuanced portrayal of the classic toy. Robbie is also producing Barbie through her production company, Lucky Chap, and her involvement led to the hiring of Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach as writers, Gerwig as director, and fellow Academy-Award nominee Ryan Gosling as Ken. The plethora of talent now attached to Barbie proves that Margot Robbie was an inspired change for the toy movie.
With Schumer's exit from the movie in 2017, it is hard to tell how successful her version of Barbie would have been, but her portrayal would have undoubtedly led to a very different live-action Barbie movie. Known for a particular style of comedy, Schumer typically leans toward cruder, slapstick characters, as seen in 2017’s Snatched. And though the plot of Barbie is largely unknown, it seems an educated guess that Schumer’s lead billing would have spurred a louder, coarser, crasser Barbie.
In addition to the refinement and dramatic grounding Robbie will bring to the role, it is also easy to see how her attachment to the project has created a large draw, with Gosling now playing Ken, plus Gerwig and Baumbach’s involvement. Though Schumer’s exit came before they came on board, it seems unlikely that her style would have fit with Gerwig and Baumbach, who are both Oscar-nominated writers and directors. Considering the plethora of talent now attached to the project and the stellar first-look photo, it is not hard to see how the casting change has elevated the film, positioning the Barbie movie for greatness.