A live-action Barbie film has felt like it should have happened much sooner, but based on the trailer we are glad we waited because it looks to be epic. The film features a star-studded ensemble cast with Margot Robbie leading the way, but one actor, in particular, would appear to have been prepping for his role as Ken since boyhood.
Ryan Gosling is playing one of the many Kens we see in the Barbie world. In a world that revolves all around Barbie, we know that the Kens are mere companions, but Gosling’s Ken appears to take his role very seriously. The film is full of sparkle, dazzle, and glamour, and the audience is sure to be treated to more than one over-the-top dance sequence throughout the course of the action.
If Gosling’s nimble feet in La La Land opposite Emma Stone didn’t convince you that Gosling has the dancing chops to pull this off, a clip from his childhood may just do the trick. Gosling has been in the performing business from a very young age, with one of his first jobs working as a Mouseketeer for the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club, where he performed next to other rising child talents such as Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears.
Whilst sitting down on The Graham Norton Show to promote La La Land back in 2017, the Irish host brought up a video clip from Gosling’s past that really highlighted the actor’s diverse talent. The clip is from 1992, according to the following Reddit thread, and sees a young Gosling going all out in a shiny purple satin shirt, and silver hammer-time pants for a Canadian talent show.
The energy is very Ken, with the 80s style and hair, and some classic 80s dance moves. Young Gosling shimmies his way around the stage pulling some rather Ken-like facial expressions. We reckon Gosling didn’t even have to audition for his upcoming role, he just sent this tape in instead. As one Reddit user posted under the video, Gosling has the:
From the trailer, however, we know though that Gosling’s Ken has some stiff competition from another Ken, played by Simu Liu. Now aware that this other Canadian actor also has the moves, we’re desperate for a dance-off.
We hope we will be seeing a lot more of this “Kenergy” when Barbie lands in theaters on July 21.