Originally published on Jan. 27, 2023.
We’re just months away from entering Barbie’s world. The live-action film is among the most anticipated of the year and that’s mostly due to fans knowing so little about it and its plot, while still hearing all the nonstop chatter about it over the course of a few years.
Production and filming began in 2022 and paparazzi shots of Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken on set in Venice Beach made the rounds last summer and went viral. The first-look photos Warner Bros. released of a shirtless beach blond Gosling also caused a stir on social media.
The Greta Gerwig-directed film is exploring a new story angle for the famed doll, which has been a staple in the toy world since 1959. This time around, Robbie’s character will show fans what happens when the iconic doll that’s known for her flawless perfection tries to break out of her box and do things her way.
From the stacked cast to the storyline to Gerwig helming a woman-led project again, this is bound to be a neon-colored treat for movie fans. Barbie is not hitting theaters until July 21, but here’s everything we know about the movie so far ahead of its arrival.
Who is in the 'Barbie' movie cast?
Who is directing the film?
What's the 'Barbie' movie about and when does it come out?
Date: April 2022
During CinemaCon held in Las Vegas in April 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures gave the world the first glimpse of Robbie as the legendary Mattel doll. The studio shared a first-look image of the actress along with a release date for the film, which is July 21, 2023. Seeing Robbie as Barbie for the first time cemented her as a solid choice to take on the role. In the image, she wore a light blue and white polka-dotted headband with a striped halter top, while sitting in a bright pink Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a matching backdrop and smiling exactly the way Barbie would.
But that’s not all. The first-look images of Gosling as Ken arrived later in June and showed the transformation the actor had undergone for the role. His platinum blond hair, chiseled abs, and ultra-tan skin? Gosling was born to play this role, and he agrees. “Finally, it’s happening,” he told Variety in July 2022, while promoting his Netflix film The Gray Man. “This has been coming my whole life… I felt like I was seeing myself. I felt seen. I think a lot of Kens will feel seen when they see this. Gotta do it for the Kens. Nobody plays with the Kens.”
The actor also shared some details about his character, saying: “That Ken life is even harder than The Gray Man life, I think… Ken’s got no money, he’s got no job, he’s got no car, he’s got no house. He’s going through some stuff.”
Photos from filming went viral
Date: June 2022
One of the most appealing aspects of playing with Barbies was changing her outfits and the glamorous clothes she had in her closet, so for this film, getting the costumes right was among one of the most important aspects of bringing these characters to life. The costumes for Barbie are designed by Jacqueline Durran, who won the Oscar for Best Costume Design for 2020’s Little Women. So far, based on the paparazzi shots we’ve seen, it looks like Durran has nailed the looks.
Issa Rae opened up about working on 'Barbie'
Is there a 'Barbie' trailer?
View this video on YouTube
Date: December 2022
Aside from the paparazzi photos, fans finally got a glimpse into what they can expect from the film after Warner Bros. dropped the first teaser trailer for Barbie in December. In the trailer, the narrator (Helen Mirren) looks back at the history of little girls’ relationship with dolls and how groundbreaking it was when Barbies first hit the scenes. The teaser then shows a few scenes from the film that showcase plenty of vibrant colors, Robbie in the iconic strapless black and white stripes bathing suit the original Barbie wore, large dance numbers, and more. Check it out above.
Warner Bros. releases new cast posters
Date: April 4
Ahead of the trailer’s release, the studio also shared new character posters on April 4. The posters showed Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa and Scott Evans as different versions of Ken. While Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Kate McKinnon, Hari Nef, and others are shown as Barbies who have their own professions like Issa Rae’s character who is the president, and Dua Lipa’s is a mermaid. Check them out below, along with a new poster featuring the stars, Gosling and Robbie.
A new 'Barbie' teaser trailer drops in April
View this video on YouTube
Date: April 4
After the initial trailer didn’t reveal much about the film, movie fans were thrilled to get a fuller, more detailed teaser trailer in April. The teaser features several scenes from the film that gives us a taste of what Robbie’s Barbie and Gosling’s Ken interactions will look like, as well as who else is in the cast that wasn’t previously announced. The neon-tinged trailer makes the film look as fun, electric, and over-the-top as we expected. And the details, such as Barbie’s foot not losing its arch when she removes her heels, give us a sense that we are in for some quality, stylistically accurate entertainment. What the trailer above.
Is John Cena in the 'Barbie' movie?
Warner Bros. releases more 'Barbie' stills
Date: April 4
Warner Bros. made sure to give fans everything they were asking for. While the movie doesn’t drop until July 21, the studio has been sporadically dropping new details and even new production stills to keep fans hooked and engaged. While the plot of the movie is still under wraps, we now have a better understanding of what Barbie’s world will actually look like before we get to see it on the big screen. Check out some of the stunning images the studio shared below.
We will continue to update as more information is released.
