Issa Rae Spills ‘Barbie’ Casting Secrets

Entertainment

| LAST UPDATE 07/26/2022

By Lia Thomson
barbie movie issa rae
Michael Loccisano / Staff via Getty Images

We already know that Margot Robbie and Ryan Reynolds are starring in the highly anticipated upcoming Barbie movie. And while it seems like the internet is obsessing over these two as the lead role, there are actually many other celebs who joined the cast - including Issa Rae! But before she actually accepted the job, the creator of the film, Greta Gerwig, had to convince the actress to say yes. Here's what went down. 

The Insecure star was first brought onto the project in May, but it's only recently been revealed the process it took to get onboard. While so far there isn't much we know about the movie (other than that there are a lot of pink outfits), Rae revealed to TODAY that the movie is "very funny." And apparently, the comical script is what pushed her to join the cast, which includes Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Hari Nef, Ncuti Gatwa, Simu Liu, and more. What we do know, though, is that Rae is playing a different version of the iconic Mattel doll, according to Kyle Buchanan of the New York Times.

issa rae barbie cast
@issarae via Instagram
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Rae recalled the first time that Gerwig approached her with the idea. "I was like, "This sounds crazy, but OK. Let me just read the script,'" Rae told TODAY. The pitch sounded odd at first, but after reading the full movie, Rae's mind changed. "When you read the script, you're like, 'Oh, I get it!' It's very funny, and it's just very specific to her [Gerwig]," she said. So far, Rae is the only star from the Barbie movie who has spilled some tea. "Working with her was absolutely amazing," she added about Gerwig. 

@hellomolly Margot Robbie was literally BORN for the role of Barbie, im literally SCREAMING!!! (Also her barbie voice!! 😭💖💅🏼) #barbie #margotrobbie #barbiemovie #barbieliveaction #ryangosling #barbiemovies #margotrobbieedit ♬ original sound - Hello Molly

The closest another star has come to revealing more details was Simu Liu, who, in a recent interview with GQ UK, gushed over the film. The Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings star even confessed that his agent believed Gerwig's script was one of the best he had ever read. “He literally said this verbatim,” Liu told the magazine. “He was like, ‘If I could stake my career on any one script, it’s the Barbie script. I really think you should do it.’” Stay tuned for more movie tea!

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