It was almost not Kenough.
Director Greta Gerwig revealed Sunday that she was forced to defend Ryan Gosling’s big “I’m Just Ken” musical number within the hit “Barbie” after studio execs questioned the need of the scene.
“It just said within the script, ‘After which it becomes a dream ballet they usually work it out through dance,’” Gerwig, 40, said in the course of the BFI London Film Festival, in response to Variety.
The enduring scene comes on the film’s climax because the Kens — led by Gosling, 42, and Simu Liu, 34 — begin to fight one another on the beach before dancing it out.
In accordance with Gerwig, she was hauled into “big meetings” where she was forced to defend her position.
The “Little Women” director recalled that she was asked by the execs: “Do you wish this?”
“I used to be like, ‘Every little thing in me needs this,’” laughed Gerwig. “They were like, ‘What do you even mean? What’s a dream ballet?’ And I used to be like, ‘A dream ballet? Where do I begin!’”
Gerwig noted that her dream ballet — a trope used to specific a personality’s inner turmoil through dance and music — was much like the one featured within the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds-led “Singin’ within the Rain” in 1952.
“I used to be like, ‘If people could follow that in ‘Singin’ within the Rain,’ I believe we’ll be superb. I believe people will know what that is.’”
Despite feeling incredible in regards to the lives she created in plastic, Gerwig did mention that she was nervous in regards to the scene failing.
“Despite the fact that every part felt right to me and was giving me a lot joy in the way in which we were doing it,” she continued. “It was also like, ‘Oh no, this might be just terrible, but now I’m committed.’”
The Post reached out to the “Snow White” director and Gosling for comment.
Thankfully, the “Lady Bird” director’s fear was unfounded because the film skyrocketed to success, grossing over $1 billion in sales on the box office. One TikTok trend even had users attempting to face just like the Mattel doll that forced podiatrists to intervene.
Moreover, the summer blockbuster — which starred Margot Robbie because the title character — inspired several social media users to rethink the concept of aging.
During her Sunday appearance on the festival, Gerwig revealed that she would often sneak into screenings of the film to see the audience’s response.
“I went around to different theaters and type of stood within the back, and would then also turn up the amount if I felt it wasn’t playing at the proper level,” recounted Gerwig to The Hollywood Reporter.
The director also stated that making “Barbie” was “essentially the most joyful” time she has ever had on a project.
“So, I assumed, if I could make a movie that’s half as fun to observe because it was to make, I believe perhaps we’ve got a shot,” she concluded.