(CNN) — As anticipation builds for the “Barbie” movie, moviegoers will be surprised to learn that one of the first casting choices for the titular role of the iconic doll didn’t pan out.
Margot Robbie, the film’s star and co-producer, told Vogue in an interview published this week that her choice for the role was none other than “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot. But even though she wasn’t available, the Israeli star ended up serving as something of a template for Robbie and Greta Gerwig – who co-writes and directs “Barbie” – made other casting decisions.
“Gal Gadot is the energy of Barbie,” said Robbie. “Because Gal Gadot is so unbelievably beautiful, but you don’t hate her for being because she’s so genuinely sincere and so enthusiastically kind, that she’s almost ridiculous. She’s like just before being a fool.”
That sincerity – which Gadot infused into her portrayal of Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman – extends to Robbie’s own portrayal of Barbie.
“I say, ‘Okay, it’s a doll. It’s a plastic doll. It doesn’t have organs. If it doesn’t have organs, it doesn’t have reproductive organs. If it doesn’t have reproductive organs, would I feel sexual desire?’ No, I don’t think I could,” Robbie said in the Vogue interview.
“She’s sexualized. But she should never be sexy. People can project sex onto her. Yes, she can wear a short skirt, but because it’s fun and pink. Not because she wants you to see her butt.”
Margot Robbie in a still from the movie “Barbie” (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Robbie also shared a bit about his proposal to the toy company Mattel, and how he got the rights to participate in the making of the new movie based on the brand’s most iconic product. Barbie was a property in which Robbie saw enormous potential, saying, “The word itself is more globally recognized than pretty much everything else aside from Coca-Cola.”
“Of course, we would want to honor the 60-year legacy that this brand has,” Robbie said of his approach to the project. “But we have to recognize that there are a lot of people who are not fans of Barbie. And, in fact, they are not just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And they have a real problem with Barbie. We have to find a way to recognize that.”
This line of thinking clearly carried over into the film itself, as evidenced by the rowdy trailer released this week, complete with opening credits that promise: “If you love Barbie, this movie is for you. If you hate Barbie, this movie is for you.” you”.
“Barbie” will hit theaters on July 21. “Barbie” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which is owned by the same corporation as CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery,
