Photo: getty (2)
Ryan Goslingis stepping into theBarbieworld.
The 40-year-old actor is in final negotiations to portray Ken, the main squeeze of the iconic Mattel doll, in theupcoming movie based on the classic toy line,Deadlinereported on Friday.
Deadline reported that Gosling initially passed on playing Barbie’s perennial love interest, but eventually acquiesced after the studio remained persistent in his casting and the two-time Oscar nominee’s schedule opened up following a delay in the movie’s pre-production process.
Filming is expected to begin in the new year.
A representative for Gosling did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Ryan Gosling.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
Gerwig, 38, co-wrote the script with her partnerNoah Baumbach, another filmmaker known for smaller and moodier fare such asThe Squid and the Whale.
In addition to her on-screen role, Robbie — a two-time Academy Award nominee as well — is billed as a producer for the film under her LuckyChap Entertainment production company.
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TheBombshellactress, 31, opened up about the project in her August 2021 cover story withBritishVogue.
“People generally hear ‘Barbie’ and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I don’t…’ " she said.
Robbie added with a smile that the role “comes with a lot of baggage,” considering somehistorical controversy over the doll.
“And a lot of nostalgic connections,” she continued. “But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it.”
Margot Robbie.Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Last year, Robbie toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat the movie will sure to surprise people.
“We like the things that feel a little left off center,” Robbie said of LuckyChap Entertainment, which she runs alongside husband Tom Ackerley and their longtime pal Josey McNamara “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. ‘”
“Now, can we truly honor the IP and the fan base and also surprise people? Because if we can do all that and provoke a thoughtful conversation, then we’re really firing on all cylinders,” she added.
source: people.com
