Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s ‘Barbie’ set photos are out of control

It’s no exaggeration when I say that the release of Greta Gerwigs Barbie Next summer is about the only thing that gives me the strength to survive at a totally cursed moment in American politics and global health — well, that and my COVID vaccine.

The same seems to be true for most of Film Twitter, who can’t help but happily share whatever photos (and now videos) they can get their hands on of the film that’s in the making. The still images, devoid of any context to the film’s plot, managed to become memes.

Until now, BarbieWarner Bros. distributor has released two promotional photos from the upcoming film—one by Margot Robbiewho plays the titular lead, in a bright pink convertible, and the other by Ryan Gosling as Beachy Blonde Ken with washboard abs. Twitter, myself included, rejoiced. The latter revelation, in particular, seemed to give Gosling’s skeptics confirmation that the 41-year-old actor would be an ideal match for one of pop culture’s most famous friends. Journalists have also revealed that the film will reportedly be set in a multiverse and feature multiple Barbies and Kens.

These kinds of first looks and exclusive releases are industry protocol. And given the hype surrounding the potential blockbuster, vague plot details are expected ahead of a trailer drop. It’s rare to go into a studio project completely blind, especially when it’s based on IP. Something more sinister is happening, however, in terms of the amount of set photos that have become virtually inevitable on Twitter if you follow at least three people in the film Twitter section, and specifically the @ Twitter account.movie updates. God help you if you haven’t already blocked @PageGosling.

It’s not that I don’t take pleasure in seeing photos of two of the hottest actors wearing them cute cowboy clothes and in-line skating through town in matching neon sets. Robbie looking distressed on a park bench while wearing a western fringe outfit made me laugh. I’m more affected by the fear that the footage of these exterior scenes will never end and diminish at least some of my experience watching the July 2023 film.

I realize I’m speaking from a privileged place. The same problem arose during the filming of Ridley Scott in particular House Gucci. I scrolled with the people expressed concern about the staggering amount of footage leaked by bystanders of Lady Gaga and Jared Leto and the meme farm it sparked. I dismissed it as a staged operation in Universal’s thirsty press rollout — though that’s not a wild assumption — and made no fuss. Still, I should have known that this would set a precedent for all the highly anticipated films to come, and not even filmmakers with as much internet goodwill as Gerwig would be exempt.

MEGA/GC Pictures/Getty

It’s obviously a better case not to lose footage of Barbiea film that I have every confidence in and has already proven itself as a visual spectacle in the costume department House Gucci, which from what I’ve seen is both bad and hideous looking. I want to be pleasantly surprised when I see Robbie show up on screen in her hyper feminine ensembles. I’m about to sit up in my seat when Gosling appears, probably wearing the “male” version of Robbie’s clothes. Also, Gerwig (and her partner Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote the film) has gifted the world, particularly the very online film addicts, with enough spectacular film content over the last decade – and will most likely contribute one of the few interesting films to the IP film universe – that she deserves that we do not circulate her parts of her art before she can present it in its finished form.

Even if more and more people are asking for it Barbie Post photos to stop, I don’t see any default accounts or even annoying movie twitter people exercising any kind of self-control. For those of us who want to reserve an element of surprise until the film’s release, we can only pray that the rest of the film will be shot indoors.