“The Fall Guy” stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt brought the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon to the Oscars stage while presenting a special tribute to stunt performers. The two co-stars, who were both nominated for supporting actor Oscars this year — Blunt for “Oppenheimer,” Gosling for “Barbie” — playfully roasted the rivalry between the two blockbusters, which famously opened in the theaters on the same date last summer.
“I’m just happy that we can finally put this ‘Barbenheimer’ rivalry aside,” Gosling told Blunt.
“The way this award season has turned out, it wasn’t that much of a rivalry. Just let it go!,” Blunt quipped back, a nod to how Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” has dominated the awards season with several wins for best picture, from the Golden Globes to the BAFTA Film Awards.
“It’s true. You guys are doing very well, you know? Congratulations,” Gosling told Blunt about the success of Nolan’s atomic bomb epic. “But I think I kind of figured out why it’s called ‘Barbenheimer’ and not ‘Oppenarbie.’ You’re on the tail end because you rode ‘Barbie’s’ coattails all summer.”
Gosling was referring to the $1.4 billion “Barbie’ grossed at the worldwide box office, which made Gerwig’s blockbuster comedy the highest-grossing film of 2023 and Warner Bros.’ top grosser in history. “Oppenheimer” was no slouch either, however, as it earned more than $960 million worldwide.
“Thanks for Kens-plaining that to me, all right,” Blunt quipped back. “Mr. I need to paint my abs on to get nominated! You don’t see Robert Downey doing that.”
Gosling and Blunt were both nominees and presenters at the 2024 Oscars. They’ll be together on the big screen this summer in Universal’s action comedy “The Fall Guy,” in theaters May 3. The film, directed by “Deadpool 2” and “Bullet Train” filmmaker David Leitch, is based on the 1980s TV series of the same name. Gosling plays a Hollywood stuntman working for a director (Blunt) who happens to be a former flame. When the lead actor of their movie goes missing, Gosling’s stuntman steps up to try and find him.
Gosling recently told Variety that Steven Spielberg is a huge fan of the movie and approached him at the Golden Globes in order to tell him so.
“I saw Steven Spielberg walking in my direction,” Gosling told Variety. “I don’t know Steven Spielberg. I thought there’s no way he’s coming to talk to me. And yet he kept getting closer, and then I thought I know what’s going to happen. I’m going to point to him, and he’s going to go, ‘Not you, behind you,’ so I’m not going to do that. Finally I said, ‘Me?’ and he goes, “Yeah you.’ I go, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t think you were coming to talk to me.’ And I stood up and he gave me a hug and said, ‘I just saw “Fall Guy” and I loved it.’”
“As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter anymore what happens,” Gosling continued. “Steven Spielberg liked it. That was an all time moment for me. I’m really excited for people to see it. I think it’s a really special movie.”
Watch Blunt and Gosling’s hilarious “Barbenheimer” bit in the video below. Check out the full list of 2024 Academy Award winners and nominees here.
