Margot Robbie Says ‘Oppenheimer’ Producer Begged Her To Move ‘Barbie’s Release Date — But She Refused: “If You’re Scared To Be Up Against Us, Then You Move Your Date”

The summer of “Barbenheimer” helped reinvigorate a desire for moviegoers to head out to a theater. With both Barbie and Oppenheimer — two movies that couldn’t contrast more — getting released on the same day, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. However, the dual premiere almost didn’t happen as an Oppenheimer producer allegedly asked Margot Robbie to move Barbie to another date.

Robbie, who not only starred as Barbie but also produced the movie, made the revelation during her sit-down with Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy for Variety‘s Actors on Actors series.

“One of your producers, Chuck Roven, called me, because we worked together on some other projects. And he was like, ‘I think you guys should move your date,'” Robbie recalled. “And I was like, ‘We’re not moving our date. If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.’ And he’s like, ‘We’re not moving our date. I just think it’d be better for you to move.’ And I was like, ‘We’re not moving!'”

According to Murphy, it was “always” director Christopher Nolan‘s plan to release Oppenheimer in the summer “as a big tentpole movie.” Not to mention, the filmmaker also has a “superstition” that forces him to release all of his movies “in and around the 21st of July.”

Robbie noted that Barbie — a fantasy comedy about the beloved doll — and Oppenheimer — a biographical thriller about the creation of the atomic bomb — was a “great pairing,” while Murphy said it was “a good instinct” to have them premiere on the same date.

“Clearly the world agreed,” Robbie replied. “Thank God. The fact that people were going and being like, ‘Oh, watch Oppenheimer first, then Barbie. I was like, ‘See? People like everything.’ People are weird.”

With Barbie breaking more than $1 billion at the global box office and Oppenheimer raking in more than $900 million, both movies proved to be successes. Aside from the films themselves, Robbie credited Greta Gerwig and Nolan for helping to create buzz.

“I think [audiences] were also really excited by the filmmakers. People were itching for the next Chris Nolan film and itching for the next Greta Gerwig film,” she said. “To get them at the same time was exciting.”

Both Barbie and Oppenheimer are available to rent or purchase on digital platforms. Plus, Barbie will begin streaming on Max on Dec. 15.