Nearly one month into its theatrical run, and “Barbie” keeps trucking. Greta Gerwig‘s blockbuster now sits at $1.19 billion at the global box office, good for the year’s second highest-grossing film (and demolishing Margot Robbie‘s pitch to studios that “Barbie” would break the billion dollar barrier). So will “Barbie” surpass “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” as 2023’s biggest money maker by the end of the summer? That’s almost assured, given its buzziness. But if Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan made it into the film like Gerwig intended, “Barbie” would likely have already taken the #1 slot.
Variety reports (via Hollywood First Look) that Gerwig revealed she wanted Chalamet and Ronan in “Barbie,” but they couldn’t do it due to scheduling conflicts. So much for three movies in a row for Gerwig with the “Lady Bird” and “Little Women” stars. But Chalamet at least visited the “Barbie” set and opined his regret he couldn’t be part of it. ““I tried to get them both in it. They both couldn’t do it,” Gerwig said. “Although Timothée did come by the set and then said, ‘I should have been in this,’ And I was like, ‘I know! Why aren’t you in this?’”
So what did Gerwig have in mind for Chalamet and Ronan in “Barbie”? In her words, it would have been “specialty cameos,” similar to the roles Dua Lipa and John Cena have in the movie. Unfortunately, “both of them couldn’t do it and I was so annoyed,” continued Gerwig. “But I love them so much. But it felt like doing something without my children. I mean, I’m not their mom, but I sort of feel like their mom.” But scheduling conflicts are quite common in Hollywood, so it’s not as if Gerwig is better over Chalamet and Ronan’s absence in “Barbie.” Ronan was filming and producing “The Outrun” while Gerwig shot “Barbie” in London. As for Chalamet, he had his hands full with “Dune: Part Two” and “Wonka.”
And those actors weren’t the only ones Gerwig wanted for “Barbie” who ultimately couldn’t make it into the film. Last month, the movie’s casting director revealed that Gerwig had several other actors in mind to play Kens who couldn’t be cast due to scheduling conflicts. Among them? “SNL” cast member Bowen Yang, “Schitt’s Creek” star Dan Levy, and Ben Platt, who won a Tony for “Dear Evan Hansen.” And Michael Cera very nearly wasn’t Allan in “Barbie” either. Gerwig was eying Jonathan Groff for the part until Cera landed it.
But it’s not as if the lack of Chalamet, Ronan, and the rest slowed down “Barbie” too much. Gerwig’s film has been at the top of the weekly box office since its release, and it looks to carry that momentum into September. So with any luck, maybe there will be a Chalamet/Ronan reunion with Gerwig in her next picture, whatever that is. “Barbie” is in theaters everywhere now.
