As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of Disney, I find it truly enchanting to delve into the behind-the-scenes stories of some of our most beloved films. The making of “Enchanted” is no exception; it’s a magical tale that mirrors Giselle’s journey from the animated realm to the concrete jungle of New York City.
Once upon a time, a princess found herself in New York City.
2007’s “Enchanted” presented a captivating and uncomplicated concept that catapulted Amy Adams into stardom. Indeed, she bewitched audiences with her portrayal of Giselle, a princess from the land of Andalasia who was unexpectedly transported to New York City on the eve of her fairy tale wedding.
Yet, despite the bustling city not appearing as a dream locale, it is where she encounters Robert, a somewhat disillusioned attorney who plays Patrick Dempsey, famously known for his role as the charming heartthrob in “Grey’s Anatomy”.
The movie directed by Kevin Lima was a smash hit following its release on November 21, 2007, raking in over $340 million at the global box office, all on a production budget of just $85 million. Fifteen years later, fans’ dreams came true as the much-anticipated sequel, “Disenchanted,” premiered on Disney+, bringing Adams and Dempsey back together to explore whether Giselle and Robert indeed found their forever happy ending.
In 2022, Adams expressed his heartfelt thanks to TopMob News. He continued, “The original film still holds a unique place in my heart, so I’m thrilled that many others feel the same way. I truly hope they view the sequel as a tender tribute to the first movie and a logical progression for the characters.
Costar Idina Menzel holds an equally special place for the film (and its sequel) in her heart.
Menzel expressed to TopMob News that he realized how exceptional the movie was and continues to be, stating “I believe its appeal grew incrementally. At first, people adored it, but over time, I find that as more people discover it, their affection for it only deepens.
Why not join in the enchantment yourself? Take a peek at the contemporary fairy tale on Disney+ and uncover some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights.
In 1997, the original screenplay for the movie “Enchanted,” penned by Bill Kelly, was purchased jointly by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures and Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions.
2. Nevertheless, as stated by director Kevin Lima, who encountered the script in 2001, it was a significantly darker film.
In 2007, Lima told The Hollywood Reporter, “It felt right and I pleaded for five years for the film. It appears it was in development for seven years before it got approved with me. I believe they were simply trying to figure out the tone. How does one make a self-referential movie? How does one create a Disney film about Disney?
3. Initially, the studio found it challenging to maintain the correct blend of earnestness and humor, but Lima suggested learning from the tone of the Shrek series as a solution.
He shared with THR that his idea was to pay tribute in a heartfelt manner. He expressed, “There’s another approach for this,” and he worked tirelessly for five months, attempting to persuade them of this alternative method. Eventually, they recognized it as a path they were ready to venture down and explore.
4. In earlier iterations, Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson were considered to star.
5. An impressive 300 actresses tried out for the part of Giselle, but Lima instantly recognized that Amy Adams was his fair maiden when she entered the room.
The filmmaker shared with THR, “She resembled a Disney character in appearance. Her large, expressive eyes and pale complexion were captivating. I could only cross my fingers and pray that she would grasp the intricacies of portraying the role.
Spoiler: Adams completely nailed it, with Lima calling her a “revelation.”
I was on the hunt for an actor who wouldn’t mock the character’s innocence, someone who could embody the role so deeply that they’d forget it was a performance, never once winking at the audience or considering their actions as laughable. In all my searches, she was the only one who exuded that unique quality. The instant I met her, I knew we had the perfect fit to bring this movie to life.
6. During early discussions with the studio, Lima mentioned that the debate centered around choosing an established star versus a lesser-known talent, like Amy in this case. He expressed his preference for giving a chance to a fresh face. Initially, Disney favored a well-known actress, but Adams won them over with her charm.
After the audition, Lima shared that the conversations with the studio were surprisingly smooth. All it took was Amy’s audition video to convince them that Giselle had indeed made her arrival.
7. In developing Giselle, Lima drew inspiration from various early Disney princesses; approximately 80% of her character is reminiscent of Snow White, with some characteristics taken from Cinderella and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, but her feistiness is inspired by Ariel from The Little Mermaid. (USA Today reported that the director said this.)
8. As I, a lifestyle expert, delve into the intriguing world of Patrick Dempsey, I must share that while he found the concept of the movie to be exceptional and truly unique when he agreed to portray Giselle’s disenchanted love interest, Robert, the renowned actor from Grey’s Anatomy confessed that he “felt somewhat uneasy” during filming.
Dempsey confided in Cinema.com that the project was incredibly tough for him. With multiple styles intertwining simultaneously, it presented an extreme test. There were moments when he considered returning to Grey’s Anatomy because he was constantly concerned about being too serious or lacking humor. Throughout the filming process, he battled deep feelings of insecurity.
9. One unanticipated problem Lima ran into after casting McDreamy? The actor’s admirers.
Lima shared with THR that the actor can’t venture out in public without his fans showing excessive excitement. “There were countless instances where we had to ask them to quiet down so we could film, as they were shouting ‘We love you, Dr. McDreamy’ throughout,” she said. However challenging it was, the actor graciously handled the situation by speaking with his fans, offering them a few moments of his time, and promising to return when he had a break. So we had to manage the crowd effectively during filming.
10. Another role Lima took on? Providing the voice for Pip the Chipmunk.
11. At first, James Marsden was invited to audition for the role of Robert, but he ended up pursuing the part of Prince Edward instead, as he found the less serious character of Prince Edward to be more entertaining.
12. Long before director Lima became involved, Susan Sarandon had already shown interest in portraying Queen Narcissa.
At one stage, the film was progressing, and she had gone through the script. Her enthusiasm for portraying the character was palpable, Lima revealed to Ain’t It Cool. Consequently, her eagerness for the role was already evident, and there was no need to persuade me further about Susan.
All of Sarandon’s scenes were filmed in a two-week period.
13. Giselle’s wedding dress weighed a whopping 45 pounds.
14. The Troll’s attire consists of scraps from the gowns of previous Disney Princesses. Lima put it, “He’s got about four dresses and earrings made from Ariel’s purple seashells.” The concept is that he has consumed all the princesses, with Giselle being his next target.
15. Multiple well-known characters from Disney animated movies make brief appearances: Jodie Benson, who gave life to Ariel in The Little Mermaid, portrays a secretary, while Judy Kuhn, the vocalist behind Pocahontas’ character, is among Robert’s neighbors.
16. The acclaimed Broadway star Idina Menzel was chosen to play Robert’s love interest, Nancy, in the film. Interestingly, Menzel does not sing in the movie, a choice that she wholeheartedly accepted.
The Frozen star shared that it was flattering, in fact, for everyone to miss her singing, as she conveyed to Movies Online. In truth, the character Nancy wasn’t meant to sing, so having Kevin appreciate me as an actor and offering me the role based on my acting abilities alone felt like a genuine compliment.
17. An important decision was selecting Julie Andrews as the narrator, as Lima admitted to THR that they initially auditioned many male voices, but none seemed fitting for some unexplained reason.
He went on to say, “I was searching for an individual capable of creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a timeless Disney movie. Suddenly, I found myself pondering, ‘Perhaps there’s a woman with the ability to tell this story.’ And it was Julie who came to mind as someone who could beautifully capture the essence.
18. In Central Park, the grand musical number titled “That’s How You Know” required the participation of 150 dancers and was filmed over a period of 17 days because of the unpredictable weather conditions.
19. Discussions about a sequel to the movie “Enchanted” started back in 2010, but it wasn’t until December 2020 that the project was officially confirmed. Many of the original actors, with the exception of Sarandon, returned for the film, and newcomers such as Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays were added to the cast to play fresh characters.
20. Gabriella Baldacchino took over the role of Edward’s daughter Morgan from Rachel Covey, yet Covey appeared in a brief role as another character in the sequel, premiering on Disney+ in November 2022.
This story was originally published on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 12 a.m. PT.
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2024-11-21 11:19