Matt Bomer Reveals Why Passing on Barbie Role Was the Best Decision for His Career

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In 2023, Barbie dominated the box office, ignited a cultural phenomenon, and transformed its Ken characters into immediate icons. Refusing a part in this pink-themed, billion-dollar box office blockbuster could appear to be a significant mistake. However, for actor Matt Bomer, it was the wise decision. He’s not dwelling on it, and he has recently shared his reasons for feeling content with that choice.

Matt Bomer has encountered numerous significant roles during his acting career, and Barbie would have undoubtedly been another impressive addition. He recently spoke to Business Insider and shared insights on why he decided to step away from the blockbuster movie. The star of “Fellow Travelers” disclosed that initially, he was in contention for the part of Ken, but eventually opted out to prioritize his family and fully commit to the seven-time Oscar-nominated Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro,” directed by Bradley Cooper. Bomer elaborated on his decision with these thoughts:

In this version, I’ve tried to use more conversational language while maintaining the original meaning. If you prefer a slightly shorter version, here it is:

Matt Bomer had many big chances during his career, and Barbie would have looked great on his resume. He spoke with Business Insider about why he turned down the blockbuster. The “Fellow Travelers” star initially aimed to play Ken but ultimately chose family and work on Bradley Cooper’s seven-time Oscar-nominated Leonard Bernstein biopic, “Maestro.” Bomer explained his choice by saying:

Despite having a smaller role in ‘Maestro’, Bradley was incredibly collaborative with me right from the start, making it an intensely immersive experience. Leaving London to film my brief scenes for ‘Barbie’ and then returning so quickly – I feel that my experience on ‘Maestro’ would have been fundamentally different had it not been for this initial project.

In the movie, a 47-year-old actor portrayed David Oppenheim, Bernstein’s lover. Regardless of having less on-screen presence, he deemed the entire experience as “transformative.” To maintain the profound impact and deep emotional depth of the project, Bomer chose to concentrate solely on it, rather than divide his attention. He added:

I’m truly appreciative that I had the opportunity to learn this work method. I likely wouldn’t have encountered it if I were attempting to fit it into my schedule.

By opting for that decision, he unfortunately missed out on experiencing a global pop culture phenomenon akin to Barbenheimer, which amassed over $1 billion globally and was unavoidably the talk of the town from box office discussions to Oscar ceremonies. However, I respect Bomer’s steadfast commitment to his artistic beliefs, and I’m glad he has no lingering remorse about his choice.

Since Barbie made its debut on the big screen, several actors portraying Ken have shared insights into their roles. Many found humor in playing the flamboyantly exaggerated characters. However, Simu Liu recently mentioned the grueling process of waxing for the movie, and it doesn’t seem to have been a pleasant experience. Nevertheless, Liu, along with Kingsley Ben-Adir and Ncuti Gatwa, were able to be part of a significant cultural moment – and even performed in the Oscars rendition of “I’m Just Ken.

I have no doubt that Matt Bomer would have been fantastic as Ken too. At the moment, it seems unlikely that we’ll get another Barbie movie sequel, but there might be a chance for a spinoff focusing on Ken. In this hypothetical spinoff, Matt Bomer could potentially be cast. After all, director Greta Gerwig mentioned that there was a lot of material about Ken that didn’t make it into the final cut.

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Despite constantly evolving trends, Bomer distinguishes himself with deliberate decisions, a quality that’s increasingly scarce. He may not be like Ken, but he embodies a calm, collected vibe, which could arguably be the most stylish persona to adopt.

“Don’t miss the chance to watch Matt Bomer in ‘Maestro’, available for streaming with your Netflix subscription! Meanwhile, you can catch up with Barbie by streaming her movie on Max.

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2025-04-12 19:07