As a child, I was absolutely in love with Barbie. Her unlimited wardrobe and careers fueled my absurd daydreams that involved Christmas Barbie bank heists and feuds with Monster High Dolls. Her range of flexibility largely contributed to my capabilities as a story-teller today, and I often look back on my memories of those dolls with wonder for the abilities of young minds. And while it is expected that this fondness would diminish over time, I am writing this article to tell you, dear reader, that I am absolutely thrilled for the upcoming live-action Barbie movie.
Set to release in July of 2023, the film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, written and directed by the amazing Greta Gerwig. Though the plot is still a secret to the public, an official teaser trailer was released by Warner Bros on December 16th. Drawing inspiration from and paying homage to past cinematic marvels such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie promises to exceed expectations for what a movie about a children’s toy can do.
Within the trailer Barbie is first depicted as larger than life, towering over the young girls playing with their baby dolls below. She has come to completely change the game in her original 1959 black and white striped outfit, debuting as Barbara Millicent Roberts. As the trailer progresses we get to see glimpses of Ryan Gosling’s Ken, as well as the world of Barbie. Between standing atop a roof overlooking the city and dancing the night away in a disco club, we as the audience are promised a full view into Barbie’s lifestyle, world-complexities, and career changes included. Robbie’s Barbie is looking to be an unstoppable force for what we think we know about the doll, continuing the atmosphere of importance and the shift in worldview that the original Barbie doll promised upon its release. And knowing the history of Barbie–the ways in which she altered the toy market and young children all the way up to the present day–I know that she can truly change the world.