July 25, 2023
Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben Platt Could Have Been Kens in 'Barbie' – Here's Why They Weren't
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Margot Robbie has said there are no gay Kens in the new "Barbie" movie. But imagine if a trifecta of gay actors – Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben Platt – had been cast? It almost happened.
The news comes after the equally disappointing revelation that out "Bros" actor Luke Macfarlane could have been part of "Barbie," but decided not to in order to make the Apple TV+ series "Platonic" instead.
The "SNL" comedian, the "Schitt's Creek" star, and the Tony-winning "Dear Even Hansen" actor "were all in the running to land roles as different variations of Ken," Variety reported.
But there was one tiny snag: The COVID pandemic.
"'Barbie' was shot in London under strict COVID protocols, which meant every cast member was required to spend three months in the city close to production," Variety relayed. "Flying back and forth to the U.S. was not an option."
That presented "a logistical issue" that made being in the film impossible for any of the three out actors.
"They were, I'm not kidding, really bummed they couldn't do it," one of the film's casting directors, Allison Jones, told the entertainment news outlet.
But they would have been great, said the film's other casting director, Lucy Bevan. "You wanted to cast people who were really going to get on and be great and enjoy it," she told Variety.
As if we needed another disappointment, out actor Jonathan Groff ("Looking") might have played another male doll in Barbieland: Allan. That role went to Michael Cera when "location issues" prevented Groff's participation.
"Dear, dear Jonathan Groff was like, 'I can't believe I'm typing this, but I can't do Allan,'" Jones recalled.
Not that the movie isn't stocked with plenty of hot Kens. According to Variety, "While Ryan Gosling stars as the main Ken, other iterations of the male doll are played by Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and Kingsley Ben-Adir." While none of those actors have said they are gay, one of them, Ncuti Gatwa, broke out as an international star thanks to his portrayal of a gay teen on Netflix's "Sex Education."
But there's some solace: Gatwa and Groff are both slated to star in the upcoming new season of the classic British sci-fi series "Doctor Who," where Gatwa will play the 15th iteration of the iconic title character.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
