‘Barbie’: Anne Hathaway Says It’s “Lucky” Her Version Of The Film Wasn’t Made

It’s no secret that Margot Robbie and her production company weren’t the first folks involved in the development of a “Barbie” film. Before that, there was the very public situation with Amy Schumer, and then there was also a potential film with Anne Hathaway attached in the lead role. But from everything we’ve seen, the actual “Barbie” film that took over the world is the creation of Robbie and her team (including Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach). The other iterations, if they actually would have gotten made, would have likely been very different beasts. In fact, Hathaway contends that it’s “lucky” that her version of the movie didn’t actually get made.

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Speaking on the Happy. Sad. Confused. podcast, Anne Hathaway talked about “Barbie” and her involvement in the project prior to Robbie taking over. And according to Hathaway, we probably dodged a bullet because there’s no way her version of the film could have stacked up with what was eventually released.

“The thing that’s so exciting about what Margot and Greta and Ryan and America and that entire phenomenal team [did] is they hit a bullseye,” explained Hathaway. “The bullseye caused the entire world to reach this level of ecstasy. Now imagine that version, that much energy, that much anticipation, that much emotion, but it’s not the right version. So I actually think of it as a lucky thing [the Sony movie didn’t get developed].”

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She added, “Margot is just sublime, period. What she is doing as a creative person and a producer is so exciting and inspiring. And the mythic giants they toppled with [‘Barbie’] that have kept certain narratives in place that have not allowed opportunities to develop for so many people, they ran straight through it, dancing, sparkling!”

Obviously, the subversive nature of the “Barbie” film has been chalked up to Baumbach and Gerwig, who served as co-writers. You have to assume, prior to their involvement, the idea from Mattel would have been much more straightforward. Hell, with Schumer attached, you have to assume it would have been a much more broad, shallow comedy. 

Instead, the version that was released was probably too good for the actual brand it’s attached to. Serving as a commentary on modern feminism and corporate greed, “Barbie” is one of the best films of the year. And clearly, Anne Hathaway doesn’t believe her version could have reached those heights.