'Barbie' Director Greta Gerwig on Political Right Backlash and Ryan Gosling's 'SNL' Sketch That Gave Her Kenergy

July 25, 2023 8:45 p.m.

Barbie was a box office hit and received positive reviews for its diversity, inclusion and positive message. However, some political circles have taken aim at the Greta Gerwig-directed film, and the director gives his thoughts on the backlash.

"Certainly there is a lot of passion," Gerwig told the New York Times on the negativity of the political right. "I hope the film is an invitation for everyone to join in the fun and let go of the things that don't necessarily serve us as women or men."

She added: "I hope in all this passion, if they see her or s engage in it, it may bring them some of the relief it has brought to other people."

Gerwig also talked about casting Ryan Gosling to play Ken opposite Margot Robbie. The filmmaker said she saw Gosling in a Saturday Night Live skit that gave her all the energy she needed to cast the actor as "Beach Ken."

"You know those actors you can... just feel like they know what's funny , and I always felt that way about him," Gerwig said during an appearance on the SmartLess podcast. "And then I'm a big fan of all his SNLs, I always thought that he was awesome on SNL... He did 'Guy That Just Got a Boat' on 'Weekend Update', and it's so good."

Gerwig was referring to Gosling's appearance in 2017 when he performed "Guy Who Just Joined Soho House" alongside Alex Moffat as "Guy Who Just Bought a Boat" during SNL's "Weekend Update" segment.