Margot Robbie reveals an Oppenheimer producer wanted her to shift Barbie release date but she refused to do it.
In a conversation with Cillian Murphy on Variety’s Actors on Actors, Robbie, who produced Greta Gerwig’s film shared that despite uncertainties about releasing both blockbuster movies on the same date, she resisted changing the schedule.
Charles Roven, a producer from Christopher Nolan’s film, suggested moving Barbie to avoid competition, but Robbie stood firm, stating, “We’re not moving our date. If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.” Although there were doubts, Robbie believed the two films could be a “great pairing” on their July 21 release.
Robbie acknowledged the unexpected success of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, expressing that while she was 90 percent certain Barbie would be a hit, there was a part of her that feared it could, “go so badly wrong.” Despite concerns, the world agreed, with Barbie outperforming Oppenheimer at the box office, earning $1.44 billion compared to Oppenheimer‘s still impressive $950 million globally.
Referring to people’s unpredictable choices. Robbie noted, “The fact that people were going and being like, ‘Oh, watch ‘Oppenheimer’ first, then ‘Barbie.‘ I was like, ‘See? People like everything.’ People are weird.”
Murphy chimed in, “And they don’t like being told what to do. They will decide, and they will generate the interest themselves.”
Both movies have already won many awards and are in one-on-one competition for Oscars.
In another news, Barbie will be available for streaming on Max.
