Anne Hathaway has revealed why it’s a ‘lucky thing’ her Barbie film never got made – after the incredible success of the Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-led blockbuster.

Back in 2017, Hathaway, 41, was lined up to play Barbie in a film for Sony Pictures with Alethea Jones up for director – but the project fell through, with Greta Gerwig taking on the director mantle.

Amy Schumer was the original choice to play Barbie but left the project, citing that her schedule was jammed, leaving her unable to continue on in the role.

Speaking on the December 11 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hathaway said: ‘I think the thing you have to imagine is, and the thing that’s so exciting about Margot and Greta.

‘They hit a bullseye, and the bullseye caused the entire world to reach this level of ecstasy.

Anne Hathaway has revealed why it’s a ‘lucky thing’ her Barbie film never got made – after the incredible success of the Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-led blockbuster

The film has set records since its July 21 release in theaters, earning more than $1.4 billion dollars, and becoming the most successful film of 2023 and has become the highest earning movie in Warner Bros history

‘Now imagine that version, that much energy, that much anticipation, that much emotion, but it’s not the right version.

‘So, I actually think of it as a lucky thing, and as I mentioned, I think that Margot is just sublime, period. What she is doing as a creative person and a producer is so exciting and inspiring.

‘And the mythic giants they toppled with [Barbie] that have kept certain narratives in place that have not allowed opportunities to develop for so many people. They ran straight through it, dancing, sparkling!

‘Just as a cinema-goer and just as a woman in Hollywood since I was a kid, I’m thrilled by the development. If I believed that the version I was attached to could have done that, yeah, I might feel differently about it, but I genuinely think their [film] was the best possible version.

‘So it’s actually very easy to just be thrilled and happy [for them]. I’m also a person who loves watching women 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 it. I just do, I just love it. And also, to do so well, so undeniably that they actually had to write new records, come on! … I think it’s probably going to make things better.’

The film has set records since its July 21 release in theaters, earning more than $1.4 billion dollars, and becoming the most successful film of 2023 and has become the highest earning movie in Warner Bros history.

Margot, 33, bought the rights to Barbie from toymaker Mattel through her production company LuckyChap, and approached Oscar nominee Gerwig, 40, to write the script.

Greta in turn, teamed up with her partner Noah Baumbach, 54, to write the script and then approached Margot about directing the film.

Speaking on the December 11 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hathaway said: ‘I think the thing you have to imagine is, and the thing that’s so exciting about Margot and Greta’

Amy Schumer was the original choice to play Barbie but left the project, citing that her schedule was jammed, leaving her unable to continue on in the role

The film is expected to be a major contender during awards season, which should kick off December 8, when the Critics Choice nominations are announced.  Greta was honored as a Global Icon & Creator at the Gotham Awards for her work.

The movie’s soundtrack, which includes songs from Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Lizzo, among many other top names in music, has sold more than one million albums in the US.

The album received 11 Grammy nominations including a Best Song Written for Visual Media for the power ballad, I’m Just Ken, sung by Ryan Gosling.

The winners will be announced at the Grammys ceremonies February 4.