Barbie star Michael Cera has admitted that he was “desperate” to be a part of the film.
The actor, best known for his roles in Superbad and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, will play Allan in Greta Gerwig’s live-action fantasy-comedy, which is due to be released in cinemas later this week (July 21).
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Cera, who played George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, spoke with The Guardian about the upcoming film, admitting that he jumped at the chance to appear in the fantastical world.
“I was desperate to be a part of it,” he said, before going into detail on the production. “I would stand there and marvel, and [I] never got tired of looking around and finding new little details. It was one of the most stunning things I’ve ever seen.”
Oscar-winner Gerwig, who has previously directed Lady Bird and Little Women, spoke exclusively with Digital Spy about the film, revealing how she wanted to “honour” the legacy of the iconic doll – which meant not ignoring the more problematic elements.
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“The thing we wanted to do was not deny how complicated she is,” she said. There are so many things about her that are amazing and also like, 'Oh, I wish you hadn't done that'. I think that's what made it rich was being able to be in all the thorniness and not denying it
“I am as surprised as anyone that they really let us do it this way,” she added about the project. “I really think a big part of it was Margot [Robbie] who obviously was the star, but also a producer. She really got in front of it and said, 'This is the movie I want to make and we're going to make it this way, and let's go'. I think that was a huge part of why they gave us so much trust.”
Barbie will be released in cinemas in the US and UK on July 21.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
