Was Ryan Gosling the first choice to play Ken? 'Barbie' casting directors reveal actors who could not play iconic role

Even though Ryan Gosling bagged the role of the main Ken in the movie, there were other actors in the running

PUBLISHED JUL 26, 2023

Ryan Gosling was ultimately chosen to play Ken in 'Barbie' (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Greta Gerwig's ‘Barbie’ boasts an impressive cast, including Margot Robbie, Issa Rae and Kate McKinnon. Casting directors Allison Jones and Lucy Bevan sought to match this star power for the roles of Kens, resulting in numerous actors competing for the parts.

Indeed, there was no shortage of actors competing for roles in the vibrant world of 'Barbie', eager to be part of the movie's pink paradise. However, it was Ryan Gosling who ultimately landed the role thanks to his ‘Kenergy’.

Greta Gerwig attends a photocall on July 13, 2023 in London, England. — Greta Gerwig attends a 'Barbie' photocall on July 13 in London, England (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)

‘They were…. really bummed they couldn't do it’

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Bevan and Jones revealed that some fan-favorite stars missed out on the opportunity to join the project. Actors such as Daniel Levy, Ben Platt and Bowen Yang could not be a part of the film due to scheduling conflicts. Jones mentioned, "They were, I'm not kidding, really bummed they couldn't do it”.

Actor-writer Daniel Levy attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. — Actor-writer Daniel Levy attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for MTV)

Ben Platt attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Bowen Yang attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. — Bowen Yang attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California (Rich Fury/Getty Images)

During the casting process, Jonathan Groff was nearly selected for the role of outsider Allan, but ultimately the part went to Michael Cera. Jones told Vanity Fair, “Dear, dear Jonathan Groff was like, 'I can't believe I'm typing this, but I can't do Allan.'"

Jonathan Groff attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

However, due to Covid-19 protocols, the entire cast of 'Barbie' had to stay in London for three months. It unfortunately impacted some actors' ability to join the production. Nonetheless, the team of Kens, led by Ryan Gosling, featured a diverse group of actors including Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Ncuti Gatwa. The goal was to create a cohesive and enjoyable group dynamic for the characters. Bevan expressed the importance of casting individuals who would get along well and contribute positively to the film's atmosphere.

Greta Gerwig turns box office pink

Ryan Gosling (L) and Margot Robbie pose for photos as they promote the upcoming film — Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie pose for photos as they promote the upcoming film 'Barbie' during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada (be Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Over the weekend, ‘Barbie’ dominated the box office with an impressive debut, grossing a staggering $155M. The film's success achieved another remarkable milestone by breaking the record for the biggest opening weekend for a movie by a female director. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by the co-directors of ‘Captain Marvel’, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, whose superhero film earned $153M in ticket sales in 2019.