It seems that Sony will have to search for someone new to headline their BARBIE film as Variety reports that Amy Schumer has dropped out of the project.
In a statement, Schumer said that she is sadly "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." Ah, those pesky scheduling conflicts. In response, a spokesperson for Sony said that they "respect and support Amy's decision" and that they "look forward to bringing Barbie to the world and sharing updates on casting and filmmakers soon."
The BARBIE movie was expected to kick off production this June, but Sony will have to get a move on as Variety's sources say that the studio needs to stick to their previously announced June 29, 2018 release date as Mattell "already has merchandise and product cycles in motion." In addition to casting a new leading lady, Sony is still trying to find a director for the film. Amy Schumer also recently did a polish on the script for BARBIE, but it's not yet clear whether the tone will change with her departure. The BARBIE MOVIE reportedly takes place 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."
Amy Schumer has several projects on the horizon, including SNATCHED, an action-comedy in which Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn star as a mother and daughter who become part of an unexpected adventure when their vacation goes terribly wrong. SNATCHED is set for a May 12, 2017 release.