From ‘Barbie’ to ‘Asteroid City,’ Here’s Everything Margot Robbie Has in the Works
Samantha Bergeson
Margot Robbie is everywhere — and we mean, everywhere.
The founder of critically acclaimed production company LuckyChap Entertainment has starred in some of the biggest auteur films of the decade (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”) and produced independent feminist films “I, Tonya” and “Promising Young Woman,” all while making at least one movie per year since 2013.
Robbie landed Oscar nominations for her respective turns in 2017’s Olympic biopic “I, Tonya” and 2019’s “Bombshell,” inspired by the true story of the sexual harassment lawsuit against former FOX News exec Roger Ailes. And don’t forget Robbie’s scene-stealing turn as Harley Quinn that transcended two “Suicide Squad” iterations plus lead spinoff “Birds of Prey,” which Robbie’s LuckyChap produced.
The first look at Robbie as a Mattel doll come to life for Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” almost broke the Internet. But that’s not the only star-studded epic Robbie leads this year.
Below, find out everything Robbie has in the mix for 2022 and beyond.
“Barbie”
Already being (jokingly) dubbed the largest cast in Hollywood history, “Barbie” wowed audiences at 2022 CinemaCon with a first look as Robbie in the titular role. Greta Gerwig will direct from a script she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach. Ryan Gosling plays Ken, with Simu Liu and Ncuti Gatwa rumored to be other doll versions of the same character. Robbie’s fellow “Bombshell” alum Kate McKinnon, “Promising Young Woman” writer-director Emerald Fennell, “Bridgerton” breakout Nicola Coughlan, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and America Ferrera also star, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of a Mattel-like toy company. Rumor has it Gerwig’s “Little Women” collaborator Saoirse Ronan and Grammy winner Dua Lipa will also be joining the mega-cast, with Robbie producing. “Barbie” debuts July 21, 2023.
“Asteroid City”
Little is known about the upcoming Wes Anderson film “Asteroid City,” other than the sense that it must be a romance set in Europe. What we do know, though, is that Anderson reunites with frequent collaborators Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Liev Schreiber, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman. It seems like Robbie and Rupert Friend will play the lead lovers, with Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Maya Hawke, Jeff Goldblum, and Matt Dillon rounding out the cast.
The official logline promises that the Anderson film, co-written by Roman Coppola, will be a “poetic meditation on the meaning of life.” The film is set in a fictional American desert town in 1955 during its Junior Stargazer convention, bringing students and parents from across the country for a scholarly competition, rest and recreation, comedy, drama, romance, and more.
“Ruin”
Robbie is set to lead the period film “Ruin” about an ex-Nazi captain who navigates the ruins of post-WWII Germany while trying to atone for his crimes during the war by hunting down the surviving members of his former SS Death Squad. “Eternals” scribes Kaz and Ryan Firpo wrote the script, with the feature set to be directed by Justin Kurzel (“Nitram”). Matthew Schoenaerts stars opposite Robbie.
“Ocean’s Eleven” Prequel
Robbie announced on May 19 that she will collaborate with “Bombshell” director Jay Roach again for an “Ocean’s 11” prequel film. Not to be confused with “Ocean’s 8,” this project will be a prequel to the prequel, if you will, and set in 1960s Europe. Carrie Solomon is slated to write the script, and production is expected to kick off in summer 2023. LuckyChap is also producing.
The original “Ocean’s 11” starred Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Angie Dickinson and was released in 1960. The film was famously remade by Steven Soderbergh in 2001 with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts leading the ensemble cast. After two sequels, the franchise landed another film led by Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock in 2018. There’s been no word yet if Robbie’s 1960s-set film will be a similar gender-swapped take, or even be related to the current franchise. However, Ryan Gosling is rumored to be joining the cast.
“Saltburn”
Robbie continues her working partnership with “Barbie” actress Emerald Fennell, who won an Oscar for penning “Promising Young Woman,” which Robbie also produced. Fennell writes and directs upcoming film “Saltburn” about an aristocratic English family. Fellow DC actor Barry Keoghan is set to star, along with “Euphoria” breakout Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike.
“Tank Girl”
Based on a British comic book, created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, “Tank Girl” centers on Rebecca Buck, a woman who lives in a tank after being declared an outlaw. The Australian-set comic follows Rebecca on her misadventures with her boyfriend who is a mutant kangaroo. The punk stylized series is set for a big screen adaptation with Robbie producing, though it’s been on hold since 2020 due to the pandemic.
“Iron Mike”
Heavyweight champion turned actor Mike Tyson gets a fictionalized Hulu miniseries courtesy of executive producer Robbie’s LuckyChap. “Bird Box” star Trevante Rhodes plays Tyson, with Harvey Keitel also starring. The series comes from “I, Tonya” screenwriter Steven Rogers and director Craig Gillespie. “Mixed-ish”‘s Karin Gist is set as showrunner and executive producer. Tyson is not involved in the series in any way, calling the eight-episode “Iron Mike” a “tone-deaf cultural misappropriation” of his life. Tyson later announced he was executive producing a limited series based on his life with Jamie Foxx attached to star.
“Big Thunder Mountain”
Everyone’s favorite Disneyland rollercoaster (it really is the best) is getting the big screen treatment, courtesy of Robbie and Ridley Scott. Through their respective production banners (LuckyChap Entertainment and Scott Free), “Big Thunder Mountain” is brought to life with “Hawkeye” directors Bert and Bertie behind the camera using a script by screenwriting duo Kieran and Michele Mulroney (“Power Rangers,” “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”). The film will take place in a mining town during the Gold Rush of the 1800s.
Untitled Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston Body-Swap Comedy
After “Palm Springs” writer-director Max Barbakow made history at the Sundance Film Festival, the filmmaker’s follow-up feature has landed top talent, including Margot Robbie as a producer. Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment is behind the currently untitled body-swap comedy starring Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston. The film is coming soon to Prime Video.
“Alba”
Camila Mendes and Jenna Ortega are set to lead the film adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s play, “The House of Bernarda Alba.” The story follows the titular Bernarda Alba who enacts an eight-year mourning period after her husband dies; her daughters, however, rebel against the custom as they had a tumultuous relationship with their father. Danny Ramirez also stars in the A24 film, directed by Francisca Alegria and produced by Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment.
