Anne Hathaway expressed her relief that the "Barbie" film she was originally supposed to star in never ended up being made. In a recent appearance on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Hathaway praised the team behind the current "Barbie" project, led by Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie. She described their work as hitting a bullseye and causing the world to reach a level of ecstasy. Hathaway acknowledged that the anticipation and energy surrounding the film would have been immense if it had been made with her in the lead role, but she considers it lucky that it never happened. She initially took over the role after Amy Schumer backed out due to creative differences.

Hathaway expressed her admiration for Robbie, calling her sublime and praising her work as both a creative person and a producer. Gerwig's involvement as director was also highlighted by Hathaway, who described the duo as toppling mythic giants and breaking through narratives that limited opportunities for many people. Hathaway expressed her excitement and support for the development, both as a cinemagoer and as a woman in Hollywood.

While Hathaway did not get the chance to play Barbie, she believes that the right role finds the right person.

She remains grateful for the opportunities she has been given and encourages others to trust and keep going when things don't work out as planned. Meanwhile, the current "Barbie" film, directed by Gerwig and produced by Robbie, has received critical acclaim and has been nominated for nine Golden Globes. It has also achieved significant success at the box office, grossing $1.4 billion worldwide. Gerwig previously expressed her surprise and joy at the film's reception, noting that she had aimed to create something anarchic, wild, funny, and cathartic. The success of the film has exceeded her wildest dreams.