Simu Liu talks diversity in ‘Barbie’ movie

Simu Liu says the new Barbie movie will shatter the stereotypical beauty standards the dolls used to uphold.

“I remember very clearly about some of our big intricate dance sequences. Greta was very, very conscientious about who she cast. We were able to cast people of different shapes, sizes, differently abled, to all participate in this dance—all under this message of: You don’t have to be blonde, white, or X, Y, Z in order to embody what it means to be a Barbie or a Ken,” Liu said in an interview with Vanity Fair at the Unforgettable Gala.

“It’s really about finding your inner beauty and owning that part of yourself and being the best possible version of you,” he added.

The film is being directed by Greta Gerwig, who has been praised for her film Lady Bird. Margot Robbie will play Barbie and Ryan Gosling will play Ken.

A teaser trailer for the upcoming Barbie film was recently released. It includes a brief clip of Liu dancing, but Shang-Chi star’s role in the film is still unclear. According to Screen Rant, some people believe that there will be alternate Barbies and Kens, meaning Liu could play a different version of Ken.

Liu has remained tight-lipped about his character. The film will premiere on July 21, 2023.

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