Fresh from the success of the
Barbie movie, Mattel and Warner Bros. have released the official Barbie movie
screenplay, written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. Published by Faber &
Faber, the Barbie screenplay is now available as a paperback book featuring an
exclusive introduction from Gerwig and Baumbach, along with eight pages of
full-color photos from the film, in addition to the complete movie script.
The 138-page book is currently
available, and you can order a copy on Amazon for $17, enjoying a 10% discount
off the listed price of $19.95.
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, announced as co-writers for the Barbie film in 2020, with Gerwig also serving as the director, reflect on the unexpected and joyful journey of bringing Barbie to life in an exclusive excerpt from the screenplay release, shared with THR.
The journey began when Margot
Robbie approached them in 2019 about writing the script. Initially, Noah was
unsure about the whole endeavor, expressing skepticism about Barbie. However, Greta
felt that the concept was so strange and complex that it had the potential to
be interesting. This blend of curiosity and doubt laid the foundation for what
they describe as the most enjoyable writing experience of their careers.
The initial stages of crafting the
screenplay were slow, marked by the challenges of the pandemic and the
uncertainty surrounding the future of moviegoing. Faced with the desire to
create something that evoked the lost world of beloved communal movie
experiences and reflected the madness of the current reality, they embarked on
the project, aiming to go for broke, even if the possibility of the movie being
seen seemed uncertain.
The creative process of crafting the Barbie screenplay became a source of joy and inspiration for Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. They found themselves constantly making each other laugh, engaging in discussions about the intricacies of Barbie's world—questions like "How does Barbie get into her car?" and considerations about how Ken would navigate their reality became entertaining topics during walks, dinners, and coffee-making sessions.
This collaboration evolved into a
way to uplift each other, bring structure to their lives, and foster hope. The
script, in their words, became a grown-up form of playing with dolls, serving
as a portal into a future world where communal movie experiences would be
restored, allowing people to laugh, cry, and dance together.
Upon completion, they were both
deeply enamored with the script, finding happiness in the mere existence of
such a piece of writing. Although proud of their work, they harbored doubts
about whether anyone would be daring enough to bring it to life.
To their surprise, their
collaborators, including Tom, Margot, and David, as well as decision-makers at Mattel
and Warner Bros., responded with enthusiasm, despite some questions and
uncertainties. The screenplay received the green light, and Gerwig and Baumbach
express gratitude that their unconventional and imaginative creation is now in
the world.
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