“Only question was whether she could sing”: Disney Wasn’t Sure Emma Watson Was the Right Choice for Beauty and the Beast Due to Her Questionable Singing Skills
Disney princesses often sing songs that are beyond the typical vocal range without even breaking a cartoon sweat because they are idealized figures. In light of this, it shouldn’t be shocking when Emma Watson’s voice might have broken during playing non-animated and live ‘Belle (Reprise)’ scene in Beauty and the Beast as she ran to a hilltop.
Disney is popular among teens for creating live-action versions of its all-time favorite animated films over the past few decades, from Dumbo to The Little Mermaid to Cinderella. Many of these remakes have also broken box office records. Aside from that, devoted Disney fans seem to adore them a lot.
Disney has produced many live-action films, many of which have featured several big names of the Hollywood industry. Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, and Lily James are a few names that immediately come to mind. In addition to having excellent acting abilities, the majority of these celebrities are also talented dancers and singers.
One such film was the 2017 hit, Beauty and the Beast remake. It marked a Disney debut for Emma Watson. Since then, whether the actress sang in the movie has piqued the interest of viewers. It was also surprising to find out that Disney had some similar concerns for the actress.
Can Emma Watson Really Sing In ‘Beauty And The Beast?’
She is best known for her role as ‘Hermione Granger’ in the Harry Potter movie series. She, however, transcends this persona in many ways. Emma Watson has appeared in over 20 films, including Little Women, The Bling Ring, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
She also received a lot of fame and acclaim for playing ‘Belle’ in the live-action Disney version of The Beauty and the Beast. Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos wrote the screenplay for this musical movie, which was directed by Bill Condon. The film had a sizable budget, ranging from $160 million to $255 million, according to estimates. The money spent paid off handsomely as the movie reportedly made over $1.2 billion at the box office.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower actress was the initial choice from the beginning, according to director Bill Condon. In a 2017 interview with Digital Spy, he shared the reason they chose her, explaining, “Obviously her intelligence, her beauty, her talent. The only question was whether she could sing”.
Watson performed musical numbers in the Beauty and the Beast live-action remake, in contrast to other Disney actors like Zac Efron who acted in musical films without singing. But it wasn’t simple to tap into her inner Disney princess.
Emma Watson Was The First Choice For ‘Beauty And The Beast’
Many people have talked about how ‘Belle,’ played by Emma Watson, seemed to be leading the way for progressive Disney princesses in 2017. Bill Condon, the director of Beauty And The Beast discussed his decision to cast Watson as ‘Belle’ in an interview with Digital Spy in 2017 while stoking anticipation for the live-action Disney remake.
“Emma was the first and only choice. It was a culmination of all those qualities that she brings to it. Obviously her intelligence, her beauty, her talent.”
Also, to land up this role, Emma Watson reported to have previously declined the role of Cinderella.
The 2017 remake version of Beauty and the Beast received mostly favorable reviews from critics, who also gave it high marks for its animation, ensemble cast, and musical score.
Well, it will only take a few minutes is one can see her dancing and singing around her famous yellow dress to realize Condon made the right decision.
Source- Digital Spy
