Issa Rae’s Motivation for Joining ‘Barbie’ Despite IP-Fatigue

In the midst of a summer filled with blockbuster releases, one film stands out as highly anticipated: Greta Gerwig’s live-action adaptation of Barbie, set to debut in July 2023. In an industry saturated with remakes and reboots of existing intellectual properties (IP), Warner Bros. and Mattel have chosen a different path for this project. They have given Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach the creative freedom to craft a truly unique cinematic experience using the iconic doll. This approach sparked the interest of Issa Rae, who portrays President Barbie in the film, even though she had been feeling fatigued by the abundance of IP-driven content.

During an interview, Peri Nemiroff expressed her admiration for the creative liberties taken by the Barbie filmmakers and connected it to Rae’s own prolific work as a producer in the industry. When asked how witnessing the possibilities in Barbie might influence her own producing aspirations, Rae acknowledged her IP fatigue. However, she also shared that Gerwig and Baumbach’s innovative approach to Barbie had opened her mind to such storytelling. It offered her hope amidst the prevalence of IP adaptations:

“To be completely honest, I’ve grown tired of the dominance of IP in movies. I often wonder, ‘Why does every film have to be based on existing IP?’ But witnessing what Greta [Gerwig] and Noah [Baumbach] were able to achieve with this film, they made it their own. It was a joyful experience. They cleverly poked fun at Mattel, and Mattel embraced their creativity. They essentially had the freedom to write the story they wanted. Margot didn’t think this film would ever come to life, and it seems they accomplished much of what they set out to do. So, it gave me hope that while pursuing original content remains my primary focus, if an IP opportunity comes my way, I won’t dismiss it.”

Image via Warner Bros.

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Continuing the discussion on IPs, Nemiroff inquired if there were any other IPs that interested Rae as potential future pursuits. Rae responded, “I haven’t really considered that. I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’m not sure.” Currently, Rae’s attention is primarily devoted to creating original content, particularly in her behind-the-scenes roles. She gained recognition as the co-creator of HBO’s Insecure, alongside Larry Wilmore, which concluded its successful five-season run in 2021. More recently, she served as an executive producer for A Black Lady Sketch Show and created and executive produced Rap Sh!t.

What to Expect from ‘Barbie’

Barbie brings the beloved Mattel doll to life in a whimsical world called Barbie Land, where each Barbie assumes a unique role. Margot Robbie takes the lead as Barbie, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she notices changes in her life, such as her trademark arched feet flattening. Determined to find answers, she ventures into the real world, accompanied, of course, by Ken (Ryan Gosling). The film’s script was penned by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, with Gerwig also serving as the director. The star-studded cast includes Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Dua Lipa, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Nicola Coughlan, Kingsley Ben-Adir, John Cena, Sharon Rooney, Ritu Arya, Michael Cera, Emerald Fennell, Scott Evans, and Anna Cruz Kanye.

‘Barbie’ is set to hit theaters on July 21. Check out the trailer below, and watch Nemiroff’s complete interview in the player above.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Barbie film

More about Barbie film

• Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie – IMDb page for the live-action Barbie film directed by Greta Gerwig.
• Issa Rae – IMDb page for Issa Rae, the actress and producer who joined the Barbie film.
• Barbie – Official website for Barbie, the iconic doll from Mattel.
• Insecure – Official website for the HBO series “Insecure,” co-created by Issa Rae.
• A Black Lady Sketch Show – Official website for the comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” executive produced by Issa Rae.
• Rap Sh!t – Official website for the HBO series “Rap Sh!t,” created and executive produced by Issa Rae.