Emma Watson says a "scheduling conflict" was to blame for her not taking on the leading role in ‘La La Land’.
Although Emma, 26, was originally attached to the leading role in the musical – which eventually went to Emma Stone – she insists reports that her "crazy demands" are the reason she didn’t get the part, are untrue.
Speaking during an interview with SiriusXM’s Town Hall, she said: "It’s one of these frustrating things where names get attached to projects very early on as a way to kind of build anticipation or excitement for something that’s coming before anything is really actually agreed or set in stone.
"[‘Beauty and the Beast’] wasn’t a movie I could just sort of step into. I knew I had horse training, I knew I had dancing, I knew I had three months of singing ahead of me and I knew I had to be in London to really do that. This wasn’t a movie I could just kind of parachute into. I knew I had to do the work, and I had to be where I had to be. So, you know, scheduling conflict-wise, it just didn’t work out."
However, Watson had nothing but praise for the movie.
She said: "I’m so thrilled that musicals are so celebrated at the moment! They seem to be back in the zeitgeist and people are kind of celebrating and loving music and singing and dancing again. I thought [‘La La Land’] was wonderful. It’s lovely."
It was previously claimed that the ‘Harry Potter’ actress made a series of "crazy demands" and whilst producers "jumped through hoops" to give her what she wanted, she ultimately decided she wasn’t right for the role.
One insider said: "Watson was offered the lead female role, but she initially wouldn’t commit. Then she began making all these crazy demands, like rehearsals for the film must be done in London – for a film called ‘La La Land’! They jumped through hoops to make it work with her, but she just didn’t feel the film was right for her. Producers finally cast Emma Stone – and once she was on board, Ryan Gosling jumped at the chance to work with her again."
Emma Watson’s La La Land scheduling conflict
