Amy Schumer Explains Why She Left ‘Barbie’ Film: “You’ve Got The Wrong Gal”

It’s been a minute since Amy Schumer has been at the center of a major film or TV project. After blowing up super fast with “Trainwreck,” the comedian would go on to star in a couple of films (“Snatched” and “I Feel Pretty”) that were, uh, not well received, to say the least. This led to a time when Schumer took a step back. And this included leaving the highly-publicized development of the “Barbie” film. At the time, it was reported that a “scheduling conflict” was the primary reason for her departure. However, as we know, that’s just a quick way to move on without drawing any controversy.

READ MORE: ‘Life & Beth’ Review: Amy Schumer Returns With An Offbeat, Charming Comedy Series

Now, with Schumer back in the public eye thanks to her new series, “Life & Beth,” which she wrote, directed, and stars in, the comedian is willing to speak a little more openly about her time working on “Barbie” and why she left that film. Let’s just say, it definitely wasn’t because of any scheduling issues.

According to Schumer, in an interview with THR, the version of “Barbie” she was working on included a story about how a woman was kicked out of Barbieland for not being perfect enough. However, after four months of working on the film, she left and gave the “scheduling conflict” excuse.

“They definitely didn’t want to do it the way I wanted to do it, the only way I was interested in doing it,” she said.

READ MORE: ‘Shang-Chi’ Actor Simu Liu Joins Greta Gerwig’s Live-Action ‘Barbie’ Movie

One of the issues came when Schumer wanted to make Barbie a hotshot inventor. The studio then asked if her invention could be high heels made out of Jell-O. And to celebrate the comedian working on the project, the studio sent her very expensive high heels. Why? Because, well, she’s a woman and that’s what women want, right?

 “The idea that that’s just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, ‘You’ve got the wrong gal,’” she explained.

Ultimately, it feels as if it worked out for the best. Schumer left the project without compromising her vision. Now, she’s back with a series that is completely under her creative control with “Life & Beth.” And as for “Barbie,” the film is being co-written by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, with the latter set to direct the film. Margot Robbie is now starring. 

No release date has been set for “Barbie,” but “Life & Beth” arrives on Hulu on March 18.