As the city prepares for Barbie’s big European premiere, London has entered a state of complete and total Barbiemania. Fans have been queuing in Leicester Square since 3am to be in with a chance of spotting the cast, with the likes of Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey and Nicola Coughlan set to attend.
The line is packed with pink tinged Barbie lovers, some of whom are wearing direct replicas of Margot Robbie’s outfits from the as-yet unreleased film, and a film marketing executive who spied the line from his nearby office called it the “the longest premiere line [he’s] ever seen.”
And it’s not just the people who are going Barbie mad. Barbified items have been popping up all over London like unexplained crop circles, or a pink stone henge. London is turning pink - here’s everything we’ve spotted ahead of the Barbie movie release.
1. Barbie pink items dotted across London
In celebration of Barbie’s European premiere, fans have noticed a series of Barbified transport methods cropping up across London. The capital’s iconic red buses and black cabs have lost their original colours and instead feature large pops of pink to commemorate the doll’s legendary monochromous branding, and Barbie’s own car (but how is she getting to the premiere?!) turned up next to the London Eye earlier today.
A full-sized pink Tardis has been spotted on the grass near Tower Bridge – a nod to British-Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa’s role in the film as one of Barbieland’s many Kens, and his appointment as the newest Doctor Who.
2. Leicester Square is shut down by Barbie fans
With all those pink cowboy hats and feather boas you’d be forgiven for thinking a Harry Styles concert was happening, but no, it’s because Barbie’s in town! Loyal Barbie fans have gathered in Leicester Square today to queue for the premiere, with some fans arriving as early as 3am this morning in the hope of securing a place next to the pink carpet. They’ll be waiting a long time, then, considering how the stars aren’t actually expected to attend until 5.30pm at the earliest, but at least they might get a glimpse of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling doing their best Barbie and Ken.
Right now, a stage for today’s @barbiethemovie press tour in London, Leicester Square, is being built👱🏻♀️🎀#Barbie #BarbieTheMovie #London #Trending #film pic.twitter.com/X7IHPE44Yj
— Daniele Kieraite (@kieraite) July 12, 2023
In the meanwhile, Leicester Square’s billboards, which are displaying vivid images of each of the Barbies and Kens featured in the film, will keep them occupied, alongside the bright pink, nightclub esque lighting and hot pink carpeting. There’s also rumours that a stage is being built. For what? We must wait and see.
3. London landmarks go pink
Barbiecore is going big this evening as London landmarks are set to be illuminated pink in honour of the film’s premiere, for one night and one night only. While it’s unlikely, we think it would be a mark of true cultural assimilation for Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling to press the big pink button themselves in the manner of turning on the Christmas lights, but we can’t bank on that.
Stay tuned (or keep your eyes peeled on the commute home) for which landmarks are set to be blushing this eve, as they’re currently under wraps...
4. Kens go free
If your name is Ken and you live in London, you better be making a beeline for a Vue cinema on July 21st because you will be able to get an Ice Blast or popcorn for free. Applicable names include (but are not limited to) Kenneth, Kendall, Kendrick and Kenji.
And it gets better: Vue’s promotion is for the Ken-y, not the few. With candyfloss flavoured Barbie Tango Ice Blasts and special dress up screenings, there’s something for everyone. Plus, if you just can’t wait until the 21st to do the Barbenheimer double, Vue is offering viewings of Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan’s other films. One week it’s Lady Bird and Interstellar and the week after it’s Little Women and Dunkirk.
