What if, instead of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the starring roles of Sebastian and Mia in Oscar frontrunner “La La Land” were played by Miles Teller and Emma Watson? Well, that was the original plan. And now, due to the musical’s overwhelming success, a new article from Page Six reveals that Teller and Watson are reportedly very upset that they didn’t stay attached to the film.
But it may just be their own fault. According to the story, Teller wanted $6 million when he was offered $4M, and Watson kept making crazy demands, such as having mandatory rehearsals in London (even though the movie is called “La La Land”).
Two years ago, when “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle’s previous film, “Whiplash”, was in the midst of Awards Season, he teased his next project and the casting of Teller (who starred in “Whiplash”), telling theplaylist.net: “We joke he’ll have to become Gene Kelly”. The Kelly-esque role, of course, was eventually embodied by Gosling, who recently earned his first Golden Globe (after four previous nominations). And Stone just took home the Best Actress SAG Award, following a Globe win as well. She is now the Oscar favorite.
Teller has commented on his “La La Land” departure. He told Esquire in 2015 that one day he received a call from his agent saying: “Hey, I just got a call from Lionsgate. Damien told them that he no longer thinks you’re creatively right for the project. He’s moving on without you.” Teller reportedly sent Chazelle a message that read: “What the f—, bro?” As for Watson, we’ll hear her sing quite a bit as Belle in the new version of “Beauty and the Beast” in March.
Personally, I am SO thankful Gosling and Stone were the final cast choices for the “La La Land” leads. They’re simply electric on screen – and the comfort level, having working together previously on “Crazy Stupid Love” and “Gangster Squad”, is obvious. Interestingly, for now, Chazelle’s next film, a Neil Armstrong biopic, will star Gosling as the iconic astronaut. Is there a chance that Stone and J.K. Simmons (who was in both “Whiplash” and “La La Land”) could join him?