Amy Schumer is no Longer Living in a Fantastic Barbie World, Filled With Plastic

While initially receiving backlash for being cast as Barbie in the live-action movie of the same name, Amy Schumer has dropped out from playing the title role due to “scheduling conflicts”.

On her dropping out, Schumer told Variety in a statement, “Sadly, I’m no longer able to commit to Barbie due to scheduling conflicts. The film has so much promise, and Sony and Mattel have been great partners. I’m bummed, but look forward to seeing Barbie on the big screen”.

On Schumer’s leaving, Sony, who partnered with Mattel to make the live-action film, also said, “We respect and support Amy’s decision. We look forward to bringing Barbie to the world and sharing updates on casting and filmmakers soon”.

Although this news comes as a set back to Sony and Mattel moving forward with the film, there may be some who would not be disappointed about Schumer dropping out considering that, when it was announced she would play the title character back in December, she was met with backlash, with some critics saying she ‘didn’t fit the body type to play iconic doll’.

At the time, Schumer commented on the backlash, arguing that she was ‘right for the role’ and to play “an important and evolving icon”.

On being trolled for her casting as Barbie, Schumer also commented in an Instagram post of herself wearing a black swimsuit at a beach, saying, “Is it fat shaming if you know you’re not fat and have zero shame in your game? I don’t think so. … When I look in the mirror I know who I am”.

“I want to thank them for making it so evident that I am a great choice. It’s that kind of response that let’s you know something’s wrong with our culture and we all need to work together to change it”, she continued.

In her post, she also gave her “deepest sympathy … to the trolls, who are in more pain than we will ever understand”.

The plot of the film, which is still set to come out on June 29, 2018 as no news has been announced on a change of release date, is, “It begins in a perfect land of Barbies where one woman slowly awakens to the fact that she doesn’t fit it. She is expelled from the idealistic land and journeys to the real world, where she discovers that being unique is an asset”.

There have also been no further details have been released about Schumer dropping out of the film, how this might affect the progress of the film, or who might replace her in the lead role.