— Ch. 1 · Development History And Production —
Barbie (film).
~8 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
The concept of a live-action Barbie film first emerged in the mid-1980s at Cannon Films, but nothing came to fruition. Renewed development began in September 2009 when Mattel signed a partnership with Universal Pictures and producer Laurence Mark. Sony Pictures acquired the film rights in April 2014, bringing Jenny Bicks on board to write the screenplay. The project saw multiple writer changes over the years, including Diablo Cody in March 2015 and later drafts by Lindsey Beer, Bert V. Royal, and Hillary Winston. Amy Schumer entered negotiations for the title role in December 2016, helping rewrite the script with her sister Kim Caramele. She exited negotiations in March 2017 due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences. Anne Hathaway was considered for the role that July, with Alethea Jones attached as director by March 2018. In August 2018, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz hired Robbie Brenner as head of Mattel Films. Sony's option expired in October 2018, transferring rights to Warner Bros. Pictures. Margot Robbie entered early talks for the role after Patty Jenkins was briefly considered. Kreiz met with Robbie at the Polo Lounge located in The Beverly Hills Hotel and felt her appearance resembled a conventional Barbie doll. Her casting was confirmed in July 2019. Greta Gerwig joined as director and co-writer with Noah Baumbach in July 2021. Principal photography occurred from March to July 2022 primarily at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, England, and at the Venice Beach Skatepark in Los Angeles.
Narrative Structure And Plot Summary
A stereotypical Barbie and fellow dolls reside in Barbieland, a matriarchal society populated by different versions of Barbie, Ken, and discontinued models treated like outcasts. While Kens spend their days playing at the beach considering it their profession, Barbies hold prestigious jobs in law, science, and politics. One evening at a dance party, Barbie is suddenly stricken with worries about mortality. Overnight she develops bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet, disrupting routines and impairing the aura of classic perfection. Weird Barbie tells her to find the child playing with her in the real world to cure her afflictions. Barbie travels to the real world with Beach Ken stowing away in her convertible. After arriving in Venice Beach, Barbie punches a man for groping her and gets briefly arrested. She and Ken are both arrested after not paying for new clothes. The CEO of Mattel orders their recapture. Barbie tracks down her owner, a teenage girl named Sasha, who criticizes Barbie for encouraging unrealistic beauty standards. Gloria, a Mattel employee and Sasha's mother, inadvertently caused Barbie's existential crisis after starting to play with Sasha's old Barbie dolls and drawing them with dark emotions. Mattel finds Barbie and attempts to put her in a toy box for remanufacturing. She escapes with help from an elderly woman named Ruth. Gloria and Sasha arrive just in time to rescue Barbie from Mattel executives. Meanwhile, Ken learns about patriarchy and feels respected for the first time. He returns to Barbieland to persuade other Kens to take it over. Kens begin indoctrinating Barbies into submissive roles like agreeable girlfriends, housewives, and maids. Barbie arrives and attempts to convince Barbies to be independent again but becomes depressed when she fails. Gloria expresses frustration with conflicting standards women face in the real world, restoring Barbie's confidence. With assistance from Sasha, Weird Barbie, Allan, and discontinued dolls, Gloria uses knowledge from the real world to deprogram Barbies. Barbies manipulate Kens into fighting among themselves, distracting them from enshrining male superiority. Having experienced systemic oppression, Barbies resolve to rectify faults emphasizing better treatment of Kens and outcasts. Barbie meets spirit of Ruth Handler explaining that Barbie's story has no set ending. Barbie decides to become human again and return to the real world. Sometime later, Gloria takes Barbie to her first gynecologist appointment.