'Barbie' movie 2023 guide to cast, plot, trailer and more

27 May 2023
The full "Barbie" trailer and the list of artists on the movie's soundtrack were released Thursday. Barbie will be faced with difficult questions about life, death, and her body in the film.  Here's everything we know about the highly anticipated movie, directed by Greta Gerwig.

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Summer is fast-approaching and along with it comes one of the most buzzed-about film releases of 2023 — Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie.

Here's everything we know about the live-action take on the world's most beloved (and hated) doll, in theaters July 21.

Who is in the 'Barbie' movie cast?

Margot Robbie as Barbie

Robbie is known for her roles in films like "Babylon," "I, Tonya," and "Suicide Squad." Samir Hussein/WireImage; Warner Bros

According to Deadline, Margot Robbie was in talks to headline the movie as far back as 2018, when the project first moved from Sony Pictures to Warner Brothers. (Amy Schumer was previously attached to star as Barbie when it was in development at Sony before she bowed out in 2017, and Anne Hathaway was also reportedly considered for the role after Schumer's departure.)

Per Deadline, Ryan Gosling's casting as the Ken to Robbie's Barbie was finalized in 2021, after Gosling had initially passed on the role due to scheduling concerns.

More of the "Barbie" movie's huge, star-studded cast was announced in early April 2023. Robbie, who's also producing the movie, and Gosling play "traditional" versions of Barbie and Ken, while many of their castmates play other versions of the dolls.

Issa Rae will play a Barbie who is president, and Kate McKinnon will play a version of the doll that is "always in the splits."

Other actors, like America Ferrera and Will Ferrell, play human characters, according to the character posters released by Warner Brothers. Michael Cera will play the only male doll character who isn't Ken — he's Allan. 

Emerald Fennell will play Allan's pregnant wife, Midge, and Helen Mirren will serve as the film's narrator. 

Will the 'Barbie' movie be rated R? 

According to V Magazine, the comedy-fantasy film cowritten by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach has a PG-13 rating.

What is the 'Barbie' movie about?

The full "Barbie" trailer was released on Thursday by Warner Brothers and finally gave viewers some plot details.

It revealed that the movie will follow America's most iconic doll as she leaves her sheltered life in "Barbie Land" behind and steps — flat feet first — into the real world.

She'll be asking some big questions on her journey (with her boyfriend Ken following along). Her biggest one, which literally stops her friends in their tracks, is "Do you guys ever think about dying?" There will be singing, dancing, and lots of bright colors along the way. 

According to a recent Vogue interview, Ken mostly thinks about the beach in the film, while Barbie experiences the harsh realities of being sexualized against her will. The trailer also indicates that Ferrell's character, the CEO of Mattel, will serve as an antagonist of some kind.

What artists are on the 'Barbie' movie soundtrack?

The "Barbie" movie soundtrack was announced on Thursday and will be released July 21. It will feature artists like Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Khalid, and even Gosling. 

"Barbie" will be in theaters July 21.

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