The 28-year-old actress said she was “honoured” to portray the iconic yet controversial doll and believes that the film will have a “tremendously positive impact” on audiences worldwide. In addition to taking on the lead title, Robbie has also signed on to co-produce the film alongside husband Tom Ackerly under the Lucky Chap production company.
Slated for release in 2020, the film will mark the first time the toy has been brought to the big screen outside the realm of animation. While there is no title and director as of yet, Mattel, the company that makes Barbie, said the new movie would be just the start of series of films portraying its toys.
“Playing with Barbie promotes confidence, curiosity and communication throughout a child’s journey to self-discovery,” Robbie said in a statement.
“Over the brand’s almost 60 years, Barbie has empowered kids to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president,” the actress continued.
Despite Robbie no doubt looking the part, she wasn’t the first choice to play the blonde doll. Comedian Amy Schumer was previously part of the line-up, along with Anne Hathaway, before dropping out of the project in 2017.
Robbie achieved phenomenal success after bursting onto the scene as Leonardo DiCaprio's lust-worthy wife in The Wolf Of Wall Street, before starring in Focus, alongside Will Smith. But, don't be mistaken: The actress is determined to prove that she’s more than just a pretty face or girlfriend material and avoids being cast in roles based on her looks. Case in point: her latest projects, I, Tonya and Mary, Queen of Scots.
"When I was trying to make my name as an actress, creative roles for women were limited," she told Harper's BAZAAR. "I didn’t want to pick up another script where I was the wife or the girlfriend— just a catalyst for the male story line. It was uninspiring."
Now that she's firmly cemented her status as one of the best actresses in Hollywood, we'd say Robbie is happy using her blonde bombshell looks to take on life in plastic.
