In a candid conversation during Variety's Actors on Actors special, Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy delved into the unexpected phenomenon surrounding their films, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” which became part of a cultural moment in 2023 as movie-goers organized double feature screenings, Yahoo reports.

Robbie, who stars in and produces “Barbie,” disclosed an intriguing interaction with Chuck Roven, a producer on Christopher Nolan's “Oppenheimer.” Roven reached out to Margot Robbie, suggesting a date change for “Barbie” to avoid coinciding with Nolan's film.

“One of your producers, Chuck Roven, called me,” revealed Robbie. “And he was like, ‘I think you guys should move your date.' And I was like, ‘We’re not moving our date. If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.'”

Roven's proposal stemmed from concerns about the films' simultaneous releases. However, Robbie stood firm, expressing her conviction in maintaining “Barbie's” scheduled date and challenging Roven's suggestion to reconsider. The dialogue between the producers captured the underlying tension around the simultaneous release of both highly anticipated films.

The clash originated when Universal set the release date for Nolan's “Oppenheimer” on July 21, 2023, with Warner Bros. subsequently announcing the debut of Gerwig's “Barbie” on the same day. The overlap generated significant industry buzz, particularly as it marked Nolan's departure from Warner Bros. after a prolonged collaboration.

The conflicting release dates triggered speculation, given Nolan's departure from Warner Bros. following issues around the pandemic release of “Tenet.” Despite the initial tension, Nolan recently clarified in a Variety interview that there are no lingering ill feelings between him and the studio.

Robbie's resolute stance against adjusting “Barbie's” release date underscores the competitive nature of the film industry and the intricacies involved when major productions vie for audience attention in a crowded cinematic landscape.