Thats just what happens when youre working toward whats hopefully a billion-grossing title.
In the case of MattelsBarbie,it was a 14-year journey that began at Universal.
This, despite Mattel pushing the female-empowerment aspects of Barbie over time.
Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in ‘Barbie’Warner Bros
How to fashion a five-quad movie around that?
It worked, with the movieopening to $162M domesticand$356M global.
For Robbie, Gerwig and co-star Ryan Gosling,Barbierepped a record start at the box office.
Toby EmmerichandCourtenay ValentiCourtesy
Barbiefirst landed at Universal in 2009 withThe Greatest Showmanproducer Laurence Mark attached.
Studios always have been gaga for the character, knowing she would appeal equally to young girls and grandmothers.
The intent back then was to have the movie in production by years end.
A June 2017 release was eyed.
Mattel at the time reportedly signed off on that take.
However, in March 2017,Schumer said bye-bye toBarbie which she initially said was due to scheduling conflicts.
The headlines occurred a month after Oscar-nominatedDallas Buyers ClubproducerRobbie Brenner took the reins on Mattels new film division.
Robbies vision won Mattel over.
At the time that Robbie became attached, it was rumored thatWonder Womanfilmmaker Patty Jenkins was kicking the tires.
Gerwig, were told,initially was weary about directingand only wanted to write.
The duo became attached in July 2019.
Their take would play on two levels not just for kids but also be sophisticated and subversive.
Not to mention it always was going to hysterically address some of societys hang-ups with Barbie, i.e.
her fashion-icon status and the womens lib backlash.
After Gerwig finished the script, LuckyChap, Mattel and Warners rallied the three-time Oscar nominee to direct.
For everyone, there was only one Ken and that was Ryan Gosling.
It was going into uncharted waters, but thats the story of a million movie breakouts.
Theres an argument out there thatBarbiemadeOppenheimerlook good, that she was the tide to lift all boats.
Justin Kroll contributed to this report.
