Ben Affleck nearly appeared in Barbie! Michael Cera reveals star was set to appear in 'fight scene'

Ben Affleck nearly appeared in the summer blockbuster hit Barbie, Michael Cera has revealed.

The A.V. Club attended a Q&A where Cera, 35, revealed Affleck, 51, was slated to appear in the film’s fight scene  – but had to drop out due to another filming obligation.

Cera – who played sidekick Allan – recalled: ‘I wasn’t even supposed to fight in the movie. Am I allowed to say what it was supposed to be? It was supposed to be Ben Affleck. Right? Am I allowed to say that?’

‘I think Ben wanted to do it, but he was directing his movie,’ he added.

The production team were notified at ‘the 11th hour’ Ben wouldn’t be able to make it, and Cera was placed into the scene instead.

Ben Affleck nearly appeared in the summer blockbuster hit Barbie, Michael Cera has revealed

Affleck was set to appear in the fight scene but had to drop out last minute due to a prior filming obligation; pictured with wife Jennifer Lopez last month

‘They’re like, “Okay, Ben’s out, something has to happen here. So you’re gonna fight them.” So I had to jump in with the stunt team.’

Unfortunately for Cera, he had recently overcome COVID-19 and struggled to take part in training for the big moment.

‘I had just gotten over COVID and they had me training, and I almost died. Just doing the warm up! I had to lay down in my trailer and they sent the nurse to see me, and I was sent home. So then we had a second rehearsal, and I learned it. That’s the story basically.’

‘That was never part of Allan’s journey,’ he added. ‘In the rehearsal, we did the thing where I murder the guy with the shovel and it was just a joke, and we were like “Greta’s not going to let me murder someone in the movie.” And it’s in the movie!’

Affleck isn’t the only big name who nearly appeared in the film – Dany Levy, Ben Platt, and Bowen Yang were also unable to join the cast.

A majority of the film was shot in London, but the three were unable to commit to spending three months in the city.

‘They were, I’m not kidding, really bummed they couldn’t do it,’ Barbie casting director Allison Jones told Vanity Fair.

The film was a smash success and is now up for eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera and Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling.

Cera revealed Affleck was set to appear in the film’s fight scene

He didn’t elaborate what role he would have played in the battle

The film recently sparked controversy after Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig failed to receive individual Oscar nods

But lead Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were both snubbed for individual Oscar nominations, and controversy erupted.

Gosling subsequently released a statement expressing his disappointment over the snubs, writing, ‘There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.’

Margot broke her silence after the nominations controversy earlier this month at a SAG-AFTRA panel discussion.

Robbie played the eponymous Barbie doll whose life changes after she enters the real world

‘There’s no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed,’ she began, adding she was ‘beyond ecstatic’ with the film’s eight Oscar nominations.

‘Everyone getting the nods that they’ve had is just incredible, and the best picture nod,’ she continued.

‘People’s reactions to the movie have been the biggest reward of this entire experience,’ she added.

‘I can’t think of a time when a movie’s had this effect on culture. And it’s amazing to be in the eye of the storm.’