The 'Barbie' cast was almost a lot bigger!
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie already has one of the best casts of the year, but it almost had even more actors that we love!
According to Gerwig herself (and the movie’s casting directors), several other iconic names were approached for appearances in the film.
Here’s a look at who we almost had as Kens, Barbies, and even an Allan.
1. Saoirse Ronan
Last September, Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan said that Gerwig, who directed her in Lady Bird and Little Women, wanted to cast her in Barbie.
“I was supposed to do a cameo because I live in London and they were there,” she told People. “There was a whole character I was going to play – another Barbie. I was gutted I couldn’t do it.” She was instead filming the movie The Outrun.
2. Timothée Chalamet
Ronan’s co-star in both those aforementioned Gerwig movies also almost had a cameo! Gerwig revealed to Cinemablend that she wanted to have both of them in her movie.
“I was also going to do a specialty cameo with Timmy, and both of them couldn't do it, and I was so annoyed,” she said. “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.”
3. Bowen Yang
Yang was going to be cast as one of the Kens, but because it was shot in London under strict COVID protocols that would have required the actors to stay in the city for three months, none of the three of them were able to film the movie.
4. Dan Levy
Levy was also approached to be a Ken.
“They were definitely really different, but they had to feel like a cohesive group,” casting director Lucy Bevan said about the search for the perfect Kens for the movie. “You wanted to cast people who were really going to get on and be great and enjoy it.”
5. Ben Platt
Platt also unfortunately had to drop out as a Ken.
“They were, I’m not kidding, really bummed they couldn’t do it,” casting director Allison Jones said.
6. Jonathan Groff
Looking, Frozen, and Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff almost played a slightly bigger role in the movie! He was initially cast in the role of Allan, Ken’s friend who fits into all of Ken’s clothes. Unfortunately, because of the location, he had to drop out, and Michael Cera ended up landing the part.
“Dear, dear Jonathan Groff was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I can’t do Allan,’” Jones said.
