Barbie’s Greta Gerwig Didn’t Want to Ignore the Doll’s Controversial Legacy

Greta Gerwig opened up about her upcoming Barbie movie and how she insisted on keeping the doll’s legacy intact.

The iconic doll comes to life in the all-star Gerwig-directed film, as Barbie (Margot Robbie) leaves Barbie Land for the first time to see the real world, with the ever-faithful Ken (Ryan Gosling) by her side.

In an exclusive interview with digital spyGerwig, best known for directing lady bird And Little womanimmersed in honoring the legacy of Barbie.

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She said: “I think the thing we wanted to do was not to deny how complicated she is and how there’s so much about her that’s amazing and also like ‘Oh I wish you hadn’t done that”.

“I think that’s what made him rich was being able to be in all the thorns and not denying it.”

The writer-director also opened up about how the film was made, with Margot Robbie – who is also a producer – insisting on putting her own stamp on it.

“I’m as surprised as anyone that they really let us do it this way,” added Gerwig. “I really think a big part of that was Margot who was obviously the star, but also a producer.

“She really stepped up and said, ‘This is the movie I want to do and we’re going to do it this way, and let’s go.’ I think that’s a big part of why they gave so much confidence.”

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Barbie received its world premiere earlier this month (July 9) in Los Angeles and those in attendance took to social media to share their first reactions.

It seems critics are very impressed with Gerwig’s film, with Variety‘s Katcy Stephan calling it nothing less than “perfection”.

“Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a fun, whimsical, wonderful and hilarious game,” Katcy wrote on Twitter.

“The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born for.”

The film’s excellent reviews should come as no surprise, with Gerwig revealing that she threw herself into every character.

She concluded: “I’ve put so much of myself into not just Barbie and Gloria, but also Ken and Sasha. I feel like that’s the wonderful thing about being a writer and director, it’s is that there are so many places where you are in the film.

“It’s not even literal things, which are there, but there are things that no one really knows is you, but looks like you.

“I would say that actually when the Kens have their dream ballet, it’s me in a very deep way. It’s a dream ballet, it’s not autobiographical, but it’s deeply my interest .”

Barbie hits theaters July 21.