The 'Barbie' Casting Director Reveals Three Kens-Who-Could-Have-Been

By Emily Richardson | Film | July 25, 2023 |

Barbie casting directors Lucy Bevan and Allison Jones recently sat down for an interview with Vanity Fair. The pair discussed the Barbie and Ken casting process and revealed a few of the Kens-Who-Could-Have-Been: SNL’s Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben “Don’t You Daaare Ask Him About His Father” Platt.

Unfortunately for Yang, Levy, and Platt, COVID constraints required Barbie’s cast to spend three whole months in London, where the movie was shot. That put them out of the running. Allison Jones, who also cast Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, and comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Superbad, says the failed Kens were “really bummed they couldn’t do it.” Another revelation? Michael Cera’s lone weirdo Allan was almost played by Jonathan Groff. Jones says, “Dear, dear Jonathan Groff was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I can’t do Allan.’” Hmmm. As much as I enjoy Groff, he’s got “Ken” written all over him. But Michael Cera? Born to be an Allan. T’was fate.

Bevan and Jones explain that they were looking for actors with different backgrounds, body types, and gender identities. For Barbies, it was important for talent to be able to balance comedy with wide-eyed naivety. Zero cynicism or bitterness; “pure in thought and pure in emotion,” says Jones. She adds that auditioning actors really, really wanted the opportunity to work with director Greta Gerwig: “Simu Liu was dying to be a Ken, God bless him.” Actors sent in self-tapes and did readings over Zoom. In some cases, Gerwig wanted to talk to them before sharing the script. “She really wanted to get to know them as people,” says London-based Bevan, best known for casting The Batman and Belfast.

Eventually, Bevan and Jones assembled their perfect roster of Kens: Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans (aka Chris Evans’ brother), and soon-to-be Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa. Jones reveals that Gatwa surprised her with his comedic talents during the audition process. “It’s always a joy when you can discover that somebody is funny.”

There are also blink-and-you’ll-miss-them Ken cameos from John Cena as Mermaid Ken (he happened to be in London shooting another movie) and Rob Brydon as Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken. Even though a Sugar Daddy Ken seems too bonkers to be true, the doll very much existed. But it’s not what you think; according to Mattel, the name is derived from the fact that this particular Ken is a “daddy” to “Sugar”, his little white dog (complete with a pink leash!). The flamboyant doll was released in 2009 as part of the adult Barbie Collector Line, and discontinued in 2012. Fun fact: Margot Robbie told Cosmopolitan UK she’s a “huge” Gavin & Stacey fan, so it was “a huge priority” for her to get Rob Brydon in the cast.

Personally, I would have loved to see Bowen Yang as Ken. You could’ve thrown Dan Levy in there too, if only to stack the male cast with even more Canadians. See: Canuck stars Ryan Gosling, Michael Cera, and Simu Liu. O Kenada! (ft. Allan)

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