MARGOT ROBBIE’S “Barbie” movie looks to have found its Ken. Deadline reported that Ryan Gosling is in final negotiations to play the iconic Mattel character in Warner Bros.’ movie centered on the classic doll line. Greta Gerwig is directing the movie, with Robbie playing the titular role.

Given his busy schedule, Gosling initially passed on playing the part, but insiders add that as pre-production dragged out and the studio remained persistent with him being their only choice, an opening in his schedule appeared, allowing him to sign on.

With Gosling close to signing on, the film looks to be on the verge of a green light, and the hope would be to shoot at the top of 2022. Gerwig co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. Plot details are unknown at this time, but given Gerwig’s track record as a director, one can expect that this won’t be your typical take on the doll’s story.

Robbie is producing the film under her LuckyChap Entertainment production banner along with LuckyChap’s Tom Ackerley, Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and David Heyman. LuckyChap’s Josey McNamara and Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz are executive producers.

As for Gosling, the role may be some of the more spot-on casting in recent years and is sure to excite fans even more over what to expect out of this project.

Plans to adapt Barbie’s story for the big screen have taken on a few iterations in recent years, but when Robbie, Gerwig and Baumbach boarded the project in 2018 and 2019, respectively, things have been full steam ahead. “Barbie” was set to start production in early 2022 at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios in London, with a planned 2023 theatrical release.(SD-Agencies)