The ongoing feud between Barbie and Oppenheimer rages on. But it seems that a bit of collateral damage is now on the menu, as we learned in a recent Nerdist interview with Barbie’s director, Greta Gerwig, that there will be a joke in the movie poking fun at Zack Snyder fans. While the interview never explicitly reveals that Snyder is the butt of the joke in this case (only referring to a “particular fandom online”), it’s made fairly obvious by the fact the interviewer asks if Gerwig gets a free pass because Margot Robbie is part of the DCEU.
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As Warner Bros. moves past the DCEU and into the DCU, the studio seems to not be interested in pulling any punches. Jokes about the Snyderverse are usually met with heated online discourse, and the latest Greta Gerwig interview is no exception. Fans from both sides of the argument were quick to voice their thoughts on social media, and that’s even before we even know what the joke is even about.
Cries of “#BoycottBarbie” and “Barbie > Zack” were among some of the most liked comments, while some more sensible users just agreed that Gerwig has the right to joke about whatever she wants in her movie.
Some online commentators still consider the push for the release of the Snyder Cut to be a demonstration of the fandom’s “toxicity.” While the campaign was unlike anything the internet had seen so far – leading to the release of a revamped and improved cut of a flawed movie – Snyder fans can be notable for their fervent devotion to their favorite filmmaker. However, calling the entire fandom “toxic” for the actions of a vocal minority would be disingenuous, to say the least.
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Some other fans have taken the chance to incite audiences to watch Oppenheimer instead of Barbie. This argument holds some water, as Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer‘s director, notoriously left Warner Bros. after the studio released all of its 2021 major films on HBO Max and theatres simultaneously without warning their creators.
In recent years, Warner Bros. has committed a series of questionable decisions, alienating some of its most dedicated followers. However, fueling the fires of division among fans seems to be a counterproductive decision any way you look at it. The Barbie gag might look like some innocuous banter, but the intention behind it could lead to a ripple effect that could further hurt the studio’s sales.
Barbie is set to be one of this year’s box-office successes, with its mainstream appeal noticeably surpassing that of Oppenheimer‘s. Still, the pastel-coloured film has seen its fair share of controversy even before its release, so only time will tell what its legacy will be.
Watch the interview clip that’s caused a stir online below.
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As long as the film manages to live up to its fans’ high expectations, we could be looking at one of the most influential movies released in the past five years or so. If not, well, we could always wait for the Gerwig Cut.