This Iconic ‘Barbie’ Dance Sequence Almost Got Cut – Until Greta Gerwig Stepped In: “This Could Be Just Terrible, But Now I’m Committed”

Barbie director Greta Gerwig discussed how she fought to keep the now-iconic “I’m Just Ken” sequence in the movie after getting some studio pushback before the release.

Speaking to Succession creator Jesse Armstrong at the BFI London Film Festival, Gerwig recalled being asked if the performance was actually necessary for the film, Variety reports.

“It just said in the script, ‘And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,’” she recalled. “There was a big meeting that was like, ‘Do you need this?’ And I was like, ‘Everything in me needs this.’”

She explained that she was mainly inspired by Singin’ in the Rain, and felt “if people could follow that in Singin’ in the Rain, I think we’ll be fine.”

“I think people will know what this is. So that was the big reference point,” she told Armstrong. “Even though everything felt right to me and was giving me so much joy in the way we were doing it, it was also like, ‘Oh no, this could be just terrible, but now I’m committed.’”

Gerwig also reacted to Barbie‘s positive reception, saying she felt reassured that “the song that’s in my heart is in other people’s hearts.”

The Lady Bird director also admitted she secretly attended screenings across New York City during opening weekend.

“I was in New York City and I went around to different theaters and stood in the back, and also I turned up the volume if I felt it was playing at maybe not the perfect level,” she said. “It was the most thrilling thing.”

She may be coming off one of the most successful feature releases of 2023, but Gerwig is already looking forward to her next project … even if it’s been giving her a few frights.

“I’m working on something right now, but I’m in the writing process and it’s hard and I’m having nightmares,” she admitted. “I’m having recurring nightmares.”

Barbie is now available on demand.