Alexandra Shipp is the latest Barbie cast member in a Barbie world. On March 18, 2022, Tragedy Girls and Tick, Tick … Boom! actor Alexandra Shipp has joined the cast of Academy Award-nominated director Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Two-time Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling as Ken, per Variety.
Barbie is set for a 2023 release. In 2019, Robbie explained to Variety why a Barbie film is worth making in 2022, saying, “I think it’s a great opportunity to put some positivity out in the world and a chance to be aspirational for younger kids.”
Little Women and Lady Bird’s Gerwig is directing Barbie from a script she penned with her partner Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote 2004’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox with Wes Anderson and is based on the popular Mattel toy. Although details about the plot are being kept under wraps, one thing is for sure: life in plastic it’s fantastic! The movie is co-produced with Warner Bros., Mattel, and Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
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It is currently unknown what role Shipp will play in Barbie. The film’s supporting cast includes Emmy-wining actor America Ferrera (Ugly Betty, Superstore). Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), and Ariana Greenblatt (In the Heights, Young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War). In addition, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu will appear in the movie in an undisclosed role.
Alexandra Shipp is Best Known as Storm
Fox
Shipp’s first significant role was portraying Aaliyah in the 2014 Lifetime Special Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. A year later, she appeared as Kimberly Woodruff in 2015’s Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton, depicting the rise and fall of N.W.A and its members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and MC Ren. However, she is best known for playing Ororo Munroe/Storm in the X-Men franchise, beginning with X-Men: Apocalypse.
This past year, Shipp starred in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut Tick, Tick … Boom!, an autobiographical Off-Broadway musical by the late Jonathan Larson (who also wrote Rent). The actor and singer played Jonathan’s very talented modern dancer girlfriend, Susan Wilson, who feels neglected, leading to the duet “Come to Your Senses” with Karessa, played by Vanessa Hudgens. Tick, Tick … Boom! also stars two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield, nominated for his second Academy Award for best actor for playing Jonathan in the musical.
Shipp just finished filming Kung Fury 2 in Germany opposite Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender and appeared in Silk Road, alongside Jason Clarke. She is also appearing in the directorial debut of Kyra Sedgwick, Space Oddity, with Kyle Allen, Simon Helberg, and Madeline Brewer.
In 2021, Shipp came out as LGBT on Instagram, although she didn’t specify her identity. “I didn’t come out until I was 28. Though I don’t believe in regrets, this would definitely be #1 for me. I denied denied denied. I struggled with not only my sexuality but my femininity,” Shipp said on social media. “It’s never too late to be you.”
Barbie Movie Is Totally Different Than What Anyone Is Expecting Promises Margot Robbie
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About The Author
Rebecca Kaplan
(121 Articles Published)
Rebecca Kaplan (she/he) has a JD and an MS but believes comics do more good than law. His work can be found at Prism Comics, MovieWeb, Geek Girl Authority, PanelxPanel, StarTrek.com and Comics Bookcase, and in Double Challenge: Being LGBTQ and a Minority, which she co-authored with his wife, Avery Kaplan.
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