The latest incarnation of the live-action “Barbie” feature film is quickly a wild and utterly unexpected affair. After moving to Warner Bros., the movie was gifted a script from an unlikely duo, Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”) and Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”). While the pair writing “Barbie” seemed like it could be one of their occasional paid gigs— the two do take on for-hire studio projects from time to time— Gerwig eventually became so enamored with the script they wrote, she convinced the studio to let her direct the movie based on the iconic Mattel doll. Now “Barbie” seems like a silly and frivolous thing, but given the creative team involved here, this live-action film is expected to be a significant subversion of the brand that is deeper, funny, and more poignant too.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Canadian actor Simu Limu has joined the “Barbie” movie in an undisclosed role. The rising star is best-known for Marvel’s landmark Asian-led superhero flick “Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings” from last year and was part of the main cast on the popular CBC series “Kim’s Convenience.”
The A-list cast —which suggests a script too good to pass up — already consists of Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) as Barbie, fellow Canadian Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”) is set to play Ken, and America Ferrera (“Superstore”) is also on the call sheet. Robbie is part of the producing team via her LuckyChap banner.
Plot details are being kept under lock-and-key for the time being, but we should presumably learn some details soon. Filming is taking place soon in the United Kingdom, and the studio is eyeing a release sometime in 2023. Actresses Anne Hathaway and Amy Schumer had previously been cast in the Barbie role before exiting.
Liu is attached to return for a sequel to “Shang-Chi” with Destin Daniel Cretton set to direct again, and his next big project is the Mark Wahlberg film “Arthur The King.”
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://theplaylist.net/barbie-wb-movie-simu-liu-margot-robbie-greta-gerwig-20220212/&media=https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/14170735/WB_BARBIE_MOVIE_ADDS_SIMU-LIU_MARGOT-ROBBIE_.jpg&description="Shang-Chi" actor Simu Liu has taken a role in the Greta Gerwig-directed "Barbie" movie that already stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.){kind=link}