Summary

  • Actress Sharon Stone pitched a Barbie movie in the 1990s.
  • Stone's attempt to make a Barbie movie was "laughed off" by the studio, despite having the of the head of Barbie.
  • Other attempts to make a Barbie movie with Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway were also unsuccessful.

Sharon Stone explains her failed attempt to make a hugely successful Barbie movie finally came out in 2023, taking the box office by storm to become the highest-grossing film of the year. Barbie is directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.

Stone reveals in a comment on Barbie star America Ferrera's Instagram that she previously tried to make a Barbie movie.

Even though Stone reportedly had “the of the head of Barbie,” she was “laughed out” by the studio when she tried to pitch the film. Check out the full quote from Stone below:

I was laughed out [of] the studio when I came [with] the Barbie idea in the ’90s [with] the of the head of Barbie. How far we’ve come. Thank you ladies for your courage and endurance.

The Barbie Movie’s Multiple Pre-Greta Gerwig Attempts Explained

Stone was not the only person who tried to make Barbie prior to Gerwig. At one point, a Barbie movie starring Amy Schumer was announced to be in development. That version of Barbie even attempted to get Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody attached to the project. The Schumer Barbie spent years in development hell before being shut down and eventually replaced by the Margot Robbie-led Barbie.

At one point, Anne Hathaway was also attached to a Barbie project. This film was to be directed by Australian filmmaker Alethea Jones and its story would have centered around Barbie being kicked out of Barbieland for not being perfect enough. Both Hathaway and Schumer, despite their Barbie films being shut down, have gone on to praise Robbie’s work in the role.

A collage of Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, and Michael Cera in the Barbie movie - created by Tom Russell
Related
The Barbie Movie Cast & Character Guide

Led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the Barbie movie's cast is full of A-list actors playing either toy-based characters or original creations.

Stone did not reveal details as to the plot of her would-be Barbie project, but it is nonetheless interesting to think about iterations of the film dating back to the ‘90s. Ultimately, 2023 was the perfect time for Barbie to be released. Not only is there better now for women-led projects than there was 30 years ago, but movies like The LEGO Movie have proven that films based on toys, as unlikely as they may seem, can be successful. Succeed it did, as Gerwig’s Barbie received universal acclaim.

Source: America Ferrera/Instagram

Barbie Movie Poster

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Barbie
PG-13
Comedy
Adventure
Fantasy
9/10
14
7.9/10
Release Date
July 21, 2023
Runtime
114 Minutes
Director
Greta Gerwig

Cast

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Barbie is a film adaptation of the generational iconic toy directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. The film centers on Margot Robbie's Barbie who is expelled from Barbieland and travels with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of happiness. The film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and several other famous celebrities in cameo roles.

Writers
Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig
Budget
$100 Million
Studio(s)
LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films, Heyday Films
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures