Barbieland was about to look a lot different, as star and co-producer Margot Robbie originally wanted Gal Gadot to take on the titular role of Barbie.

Had it been <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/barbie-hair-margot-robbie-blonde-how-to-get-hairstyles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Margot Robbie</a>'s way, Barbieland would have looked a lot different, as initially, she had no plans of taking on the titular role of Barbie in the box office hit, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/margot-robbie-barbie-looks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie</a>. Rather, her first option for the person to take the lead was <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/gal-gadot-heart-of-stone-netflix-movie-producer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">L'OFFICIEL cover star Gal Gadot</a>.
"Gal Gadot is Barbie energy,&rdquo; Robbie &mdash; who also served as a co-producer on the film &mdash; told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/margot-robbie-barbie-summer-cover-2023-interview" target="_blank" aria-describedby="audioeye_new_window_message" rel="noopener">Vogue&nbsp;</a>in May. &ldquo;Because <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/gal-gadot-heart-of-stone-netflix-movie-villains-video-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gal Gadot</a> is so impossibly beautiful, but you don&rsquo;t hate her for being that beautiful because she&rsquo;s so genuinely sincere, and she&rsquo;s so enthusiastically kind, that it&rsquo;s almost dorky. It&rsquo;s like right before being a dork."
Now, Gadot has broken her silence, responding to being Robbie's top choice for playing the lead.&nbsp;

"I adore <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/margot-robbie-best-red-carpet-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Margot</a>," Gadot <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://flaunt.com/post/gal-gadot-the-eternal-flame-issue" target="_blank">said to Flaunt magazine.</a> "Margot is one of those women who you just want to be friends with. She is so funny, warm, fun and smart and obviously so talented. She brings so much to the table. I would love to do anything with Margot and was very touched [by her comments]."
Gadot continued, "She warmed my heart with everything that she said about me.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m super excited for them, and I&rsquo;m so excited for Barbie."
Robbie eventually took on the leading role after director and co-writer <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/best-greta-gerwig-movies-to-watch-barbie-lady-bird-little-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greta Gerwig</a> asked her to, as Robbie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ebMbqkdQdg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Teen Vogue</a>. "I said to [Gerwig] when she said, &lsquo;Yes, I&rsquo;ll come on board,&rsquo; &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t have to be in the movie,'&rdquo; Robbie said to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ebMbqkdQdg" target="_blank" aria-describedby="audioeye_new_window_message" rel="noopener">Teen Vogue</a>. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very passionate about making this as a producer, but I don&rsquo;t have to play Barbie or be in the movie in any capacity, I&rsquo;m happy just to produce.&rdquo;
Robbie then recalled that Gerwig responded, "No, I really wanna write this for you," in which Robbie says she wrote her "an amazing part" and is "very grateful." Gerwig also had a specific vision for <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/ken-outfit-ideas-shop-barbie-fashion-inspiration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken</a> as Robbie reveals Gerwig "wrote [<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/ryan-gosling-bts-jimin-outfit-barbie-movie-twinning-permission-to-dance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Gosling</a>] into the script as well."

Gadot was unable to take on the role due to scheduling, though she isn't the only actor who was initially wanted for the film but had to turn it down. Schitt&rsquo;s Creek Emmy winner Dan Levy, Dear Evan Hansen Tony winner Ben Platt, and Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang were all in the running to play Kens, but had to turn down the opportunity due to scheduling conflicts, <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/07/barbie-movie-casting?fbclid=IwAR3Pl8ZPS_VfOxEpp4NrQBZ5PB841lthRwmgkZUW5xNeFi0A2AwpuMjct9o_aem_AQWWfpO4Y0NxX8VP4G1zyLdIpPBRQ-Ow5YpLdvpY0Z_GG1yYTcKd7xBpUbojn54XlBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the Barbie casting directors</a>. Actor Jonathan Groff also had his name in the hat to play Ken's best friend, Allan, though that role was eventually taken on by Michael Cera.
Gerwig <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/greta-gerwig-reveals-we-almost-got-two-little-women-cameos-in-her-barbie-movie-and-it-would-have-been-epic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed to CinemaBlend</a> that she also tried to recruit <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/saoirse-ronan-iconic-roles-movies-dating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saorise Ronan</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/wonka-trailer-timothee-chalamet-first-look-movie-details" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet</a> to have special cameo appearances in the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/barbie-movie-outfits-shop-fashion-moments-looks-style-inspiration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie</a> film, though they both were unavailable to do so.
"It was going to be a specialty cameo," Gerwig said. "I was also going to do a specialty cameo with Timmy. Both of them couldn&rsquo;t do it and I was so annoyed. But I love them so much. But it felt like doing something without my children. I mean, I&rsquo;m not their mom, but I sort of feel like their mom."
While Gadot wasn't in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/ariana-greenblatt-barbie-movie-actress-age" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie</a>, she is in the recently released Netflix film Heart of Stone and will play the Evil Queen in the upcoming Disney live adaption of Snow White.

Photography by Celeste Sloman for L'OFFICIEL Summer 2023.

Gal Gadot Responds to Being Margot Robbie's First Choice as 'Barbie'

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