Courtesy of Good Shepherd Mgt/Getty Trevor Donovan (left) was originally a frontrunner for Ken, now being played by Ryan Gosling (right).
GAC Family & Hallmark star Trevor Donovan was once the frontrunner to play Ken in a live-action Barbie movie. Ever since Ryan Gosling was announced for the role of Ken, Donovan’s fans have been posting on social media about how they still think Donovan would have been great in the role. Donovan shared exclusively with Heavy his thoughts on their enthusiasm.
When Donovan was considered for the role of Ken, he was starring in the hit series “90210.” Today, Donovan has a multi-picture contract with GAC Media that involves starring in and executive producing films for the network.
Donovan Says Gosling Will ‘Kill It’ as Ken, But Maybe Ken Will Have a Brother for a Future Sequel
Courtesy of Good Shepherd Mgt
Donovan is excited about Gosling portraying Ken in the new movie, but he has an idea for a future sequel where he might still play a role.
Donovan shared with Heavy:
If I had a nickel for every time someone called me KEN… I’m flattered. Ryan will crush it! Who knows, if this Barbie movie is successful maybe they’ll have a sequel, one where KEN has a brother who comes for a visit. Although his brother seems nice and innocent, there is something sinister about him.
It was almost 10 years ago that Donovan was a frontrunner to play Ken in a live-action Barbie movie. Donovan was known then for his leading role on “90210.” In an August 2011 article, Today reported that Donovan (who was then playing a lead role in “90210”) was in the running for the role after meeting with the film’s producers. At the time, Laurence Mark of “Dreamgirls” was helming the project.
Around the same time, EOnline reported that Donovan was in the running after his character had exited “90210.” He told EOnline that he would love to play the “iconic role.”
Now Donovan’s fans are saying that they wish Donovan was still cast as Ken. Donovan shared a photo of Gosling as Ken on Twitter and wrote, “It’s Ken…what ya think.”
One fan, Darla Tapp, replied, “You would have made a MUCH better Ken!! 🔥🔥🔥”
@darla_tapp @TrevDon I agree Trevor should have gotten the part but I don’t ever remember my Ken dolls looking this good. 🔥🔥🔥😉
To which another fan wrote, “I agree Trevor should have gotten the part but I don’t ever remember my Ken dolls looking this good. 🔥🔥🔥😉”
@jen_silliman @TrevDon I totally agree. Trevor, you rock! 🥰
Jen Silliman wrote, “Hands down You would’ve made a better Ken. 💯”
And Lina Larkin wrote, “I totally agree. Trevor, you rock! 🥰”
@TrevDon As much as I love Ryan Gosling, I think you should have been Ken
Patrizia wrote, “As much as I love Ryan Gosling, I think you should have been Ken.”
@TamaraCanty @TrevDon I have nothin but respect for Ryan Gosling . I agree. @TrevDon @TamaraCanty
Tamara Canty wrote, “So, I saw this earlier and I got nothin’ but respect for Ryan Gosling, but Trevor Donovan is “Life-Size Ken” and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on…😁”
@lavicenrose__ Trevor Donovan should have been Ken in the #BarbieMovie
Another fan wrote, “Trevor Donovan should have been Ken in the #BarbieMovie.”
@people WHY????? Ryan is OK, but it should have been Trevor Donovan.
Quite a few fans also replied to People’s tweet about the Gosling casting, sharing that they believed Donovan should have been cast in the role.
Ryan Gosling & Margot Robbie Are Playing Ken & Barbie in the 2023 Movie
While the Laurence Mark-directed movie didn’t happen, a new movie is being made and is expected to premiere in movie theaters in July 2023. This one is being directed by Greta Gerwig, and is co-written by Gerwig and partner Noah Baumbach, Indiewire reported.
Margot Robbie is starring as Barbie and Ryan Gosling has been cast as Ken. Also slated to star in the movie, per Indiewire, are Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Alexandra Shipp, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Hari Nef, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emerald Fennell, Rhea Perlman, and also possibly Nicola Coughlan, Dua Lipa, and Saoirse Ronan.
It’s the latest in several potential iterations, and looks to be the one finally making it to the big screen. Indiewire reported that prior to this movie, Jenny Bicks wrote a 2014 script for Sony, which was later rewritten by Diablo Cody. Then Hillary Winston wrote a new script in 2016, which Amy Schumer was going to be part of. But Schumer later shared that she left due to creative differences.