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Greta Gerwig Wrote an Apostles’ Creed-Inspired Poem for ‘Barbie’

Greta Gerwig Wrote an Apostles’ Creed-Inspired Poem for ‘Barbie’

Could Barbie be the spiritual coming-of-age film we’ve been waiting for?

Probably not. But a new Vogue interview with director Greta Gerwig, star Margot Robbie and the rest of the Barbie cast has us wondering if the iconic doll will find herself on some sort of spiritual journey.

Robbie opened up about how she was able to get into the mind and heart of Barbie, looking for inspiration from myriad places. One of those places? An Apostles’ Creed-inspired poem written by Gerwig herself. Robbie shared that Greta wrote her an abstract poem about Barbie to help her out.

“And when I say ‘abstract,’ I mean it was super abstract,” Robbie said.

Neither Robbie nor Gerwig shared what the poem actually said, Gerwig said it “shares some similarities with the Apostles’ Creed.”

Sure. Whatever that means.

It’s not the only time a religious element comes up in the Vogue interview. From the creation story (“Barbie was invented first,” Gerwig said. “Ken was invented after Barbie, to burnish Barbie’s position in our eyes and in the world. That kind of creation myth is the opposite of the creation myth in Genesis.”) to Passover (“Like the youngest child asks at Passover, What makes this night different than other nights?“said actress Ana Cruz Kayne. “It’s like, What makes this Barbie different than other Barbies?”), there seem to be a few surprising religious themes that have woven its way into the heart of Barbie.

Gerwig is no stranger to faith in her films. Her debut Lady Bird took place at a Catholic school as the titular character attempted to navigate life, relationships, faith and growing up all at the same time. In Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Little Women, it’s easy to see elements of faith sprinkled throughout (although that could have more to do with Gerwig’s determination to get Louisa May Alcott’s story right). There have even been rumors that Gerwig has been eyed to direct a future Chronicles of Narnia adaptation for Netflix — a rumor that we hope and pray becomes true.

We’ll find out if Barbie is the spiritual film of the year when it premieres July 21.

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