Not only are fans thrilled by the excitement of the new Barbie film but they have also been taken aback to discover that Ken actually has a full name – as well as an astrological sign.
Barbie enthusiasts are undoubtedly familiar with Ken, the iconic fashion doll introduced as her boyfriend in 1961.
In the hit movie, the talented Ryan Gosling now portrays this fictional character and he is depicted as a lovesick sidekick with chiselled abs.
The film’s straightforward tagline reads: “She’s everything. He’s just Ken.” However, many may not realise that he’s more than just Ken…
Barbie’s blockbuster success
The 2023 Barbie movie became one of the biggest box office successes of the year, turning Greta Gerwig’s colorful take on the iconic doll into a global cultural phenomenon.
Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the movie arrived with huge expectations.
However, few could have predicted just how successful it would become.
Barbie earned more than $1.4 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie ever directed by a woman at the time.
It also became Warner Bros.’ biggest worldwide release, surpassing previous blockbusters from the studio.
The film’s success went far beyond ticket sales. Its bright visuals, catchy soundtrack and mix of comedy and social commentary sparked countless conversations online.
The release of “Barbenheimer” alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer also helped turn opening weekend into a major pop-culture event.
Millions of people headed to theaters to watch both movies, creating an unusual double-feature trend.
The movie also received critical acclaim and several major awards nominations.
At the 96th Academy Awards, the song What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish and Finneas won Best Original Song.
Ultimately, Barbie proved that a movie based on a familiar toy could become a major cinematic event while connecting with audiences around the world.
People are learning more about Ken
Since the film hit the big screen, Barbie fans have been astonished to discover more about Ken’s backstory.
Fans of the movie have been particularly surprised by the revelation that Ken isn’t his full name. In reality, he has both a middle name and a surname.
Ken owes his creation to Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, who named him after her son.
In actuality, his full name is Kenneth Seth Carson. Ken was formally designated with the surname Carson in the 1960s Random House books that featured the toys.
But there’s more to learn about him. Ken’s ‘official’ birthday, the day he graced shelves, is March 11, 1961, categorising him as a Pisces.Ken came into existence as a response to numerous letters Mattel received from concerned customers who expressed their dissatisfaction with Barbie being single.
In light of this feedback, Ruth and her husband Elliot, who co-founded Mattel, created the first-ever Ken doll.
He donned a red bathing suit and cork sandals, debuting at a height of 12 inches, just half an inch taller than Barbie.
Additionally, both dolls were intended to hail from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.
Nevertheless, the original Ken spoke out in an interview with Los Angeles Times in 1989 saying that he bore no resemblance to his doll counterpart, as per The Mirror.
He reportedly said: “Ken doll is Malibu. He goes to the beach and surfs. He is all those perfect American things.”
He followed on by revealing that during his upbringing, he had a penchant for playing the piano and enjoyed watching movies with subtitles.
He candidly admitted: “I was a nerd – a real nerd. All the girls thought I was a jerk.”
Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film stars Margot Robbie as the titular doll while Ryan Gosling plays Ken.
The movie also features an ensemble cast that includes America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell and Michael Cera.
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