While hype builds for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, some have criticized the casting of Ryan Gosling as Ken or at least one of the many. For people talking about the 42-year-old actor being too old for the role, he had some thoughts for those kinds of people in an interview with GQ. He has thought quite about it, both being amused and having his own criticism of people debating him being able to play the living doll.
When prompted during the interview to discuss what people have had to say about his Ken, Ryan Gosling started playfully by saying, “If people don’t want to play with my Ken, there are many Kens to play with.” This refers to the other actors playing versions of the character, like John Cena and Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). It is similar to how there are multiple Barbies with Margot Robbie, Dua Lipa, and more.
Ryan Gosling on Barbie Critics Debating His Ken
Later in the interview, the Blade Runner 2049 actor brought up the topic unprompted. He talked about how he found it “funny” about the “kind of clutching-your-pearls” of the response to his casting. He talked about these discussions “exposed” people’s “hypocrisy” as “nobody cared about” the character, but suddenly there are people passionately defending him.
“And everyone was fine with that, for him to have a job that is nothing. But suddenly, it’s like, ‘No, we’ve cared about Ken this whole time.’ No, you didn’t. You never did. You never cared. Barbie never f—ed with Ken. That’s the point.”
Debates will start to settle about Ryan Gosling playing Ken once Barbie is released. The film has been getting buzz for numerous reasons. For one, its A-lister-filled cast, from the two leads to Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, and more. Gerwig has become quite the respected director with her previous films Lady Bird and Little Women. It has also got people jazzed due to it releasing on the same day as Oppenheimer, generating memes and genuine excitement for the different films creating a fun double-feature.
Barbie releases in theaters on July 21.