Barbie Writer Worried That Movie Would be a ‘Career-Ender’

Barbie writer Greta Gerwig thought this could be the movie that ended her career.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer and director described why it was so terrifying to take on the iconic children’s toy.

“It felt like vertigo, starting to write it, like: ‘Where do you even begin, and what would be the story?’” she said. “And I think it was that feeling I had was knowing that it would be really interesting terror. Usually, that’s where the best stuff is, where you’re like, ‘I am terrified of that.’ Anything where you’re like, ‘This could be a career-ender’ — then you’re like, ‘I should probably do it.’”

Barbie was officially announced back in 2019 with Margot Robbie set to star in the title role. Gerwig has since signed on to direct the project.

However, before Robbie joined the cast, the movie had been in development for a long time. The legendary doll was once going to be played by Amy Schumer, with Anne Hathaway tipped for the role before that.

Gerwig is perhaps best known for her directorial debut, Lady Bird which was released in 2017. She followed this up with Little Women in 2019.

The upcoming Barbie movie has a remarkably stellar cast, including Ryan Gosling as Ken. However, things aren’t all rosy for the beleaguered Ken, whose life isn’t going quite as he planned. “He’s got no money, no job, no car, he’s got no house,” revealed Gosling. “He’s going through some stuff.”

Robbie and Gosling star alongside America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblatt, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.

Want to read more about Barbie? Check out our first look at Margot Robbie as Barbie as well as our first glimpse of Ryan Gosling’s Ken.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.