Amy Schumer Drops Out of Sony and Mattel’s ‘Barbie’ Movie
Sony and Mattel’s Barbie movie has hit snag after snag pretty much since its inception. At first, Diablo Cody was signed on to write the screenplay before tossing out her version in favor of competing three other writers against each other. Sony chose the winner and Amy Schumer joined the film to star (after a few touch-ups to the screenplay), but today she announced that, due to scheduling problems, she won’t be playing the iconic doll after all.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Schumer cited the all-consuming scheduling conflict that many a Hollywood star has had to deal with over the course of their career.
Sadly, I’m no longer able to commit to Barbie due to scheduling conflictsThe film has so much promise, and Sony and Mattel have been great partners. I’m bummed, but look forward to seeing Barbie on the big screen.
Today, it was also announced that Schumer had signed on to star in comedy-drama She Came to Me, alongside Steve Carell and Nicole Kidman, and written and directed by Rebecca Miller. So that might have something to do with her leaving Barbie.
It’s kind of a bummer, for fans of the doll and Schumer alike, because the movie sounds like something Schumer would thrive in. The story revolves around one of the many Barbie models living in Barbieland who isn’t as perfect as the others, and as such is exiled to the real world (a la Tyra Banks in Disney’s Life-Size) where she learns to accept herself and that beauty is found within. It’s a great message for young girls especially, and given Schumer’s openness about refusing to conform to Hollywood conventions of beauty, sounded like a perfect vehicle for her. Sony and Mattel will probably be casting around for a new star and director for Barbie soon enough.