Ryan Gosling 'Too Old' to Play Barbie's BF Ken?

by Kilian Melloy

EDGE Staff Reporter

Monday April 10, 2023

Is Ryan Gosling too old, at age 42, to play Barbie's well-preserved boyfriend Ken, who is is fully 20 years older than the human actor? Some say yes, according to BuzzFeed.

Following the release of the trailer for the upcoming film — which debuts this July — fans took to Twitter to say that Gosling is "too old, calling out his wrinkles and appearance," the outlet relayed.





One commenter suggested that Henry Cavill — at 39, just a little younger than Gosling — or Chris Evans, who, at 41, is a year younger than the 42-year-old Gosling — should have gotten the part.


But others rose to Gosling's defense, not least because Ken has been around a lot longer than Gosling (two decades, in fact). Ken was introduced by Mattel in 1961, making him 62 years old.



Of course, if age is just a number, so is the hotness index.



Others decried a perceived double standard, given that ageism directed at women in Hollywood is frequently a topic of discussion.


Some called out ageism in general.


And some treated the controversy as a joke.



But still others had a very different — and more inclusive — take on the subject of who should play Barbie's boyfriend... namely, maybe Barbie shouldn't even have a boyfriend.


Have another look at the trailer and decide for yourself.


Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.