A Different Kind of Magic
It’s nearly impossible to imagine La La Land without the electric chemistry of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. After all, the duo—who previously shared the screen in Crazy, Stupid, Love and Gangster Squad—essentially became the faces of modern Hollywood romance after the film’s historic awards season sweep.
But the “City of Stars” almost looked very different. In a story that continues to go viral every time the Oscars roll around, it turns out director Damien Chazelle originally had a completely different pair in mind: Miles Teller and Emma Watson.
Chazelle, fresh off his massive success with Whiplash, originally tapped his leading man Teller to star as Sebastian, the frustrated jazz pianist.
“The casting of this movie during the six years it took to get made went through lots of permutations,” Chazelle previously told Uproxx. “It’s true there was a moment where Emma Watson and Miles Teller were doing it.”
The “What the F—, Bro?” Moment
So, what happened? According to social media sleuths and industry insiders, the reasons for the swap were a mix of scheduling conflicts and “creative” shifts that left some feathers ruffled.
Teller has been famously candid about the moment he found out he was no longer part of the project. He told Esquire that while he was preparing to film War Dogs, he received a call from his agent with some tough news.
“Damien told them that he no longer thinks you’re creatively right for the project. He’s moving on without you,” Teller recalled.
The news didn’t sit well with the actor. Despite the “What the f—, bro?” text Teller allegedly sent Chazelle at the time, he later told Vanity Fair he holds no grudges, stating, “Everything happens for a reason.”
Reports from The Hollywood Reporter suggested that salary negotiations also played a role, with Teller reportedly holding out for a $ million payday before the production moved on.
Belle Over Breakthroughs
As for Emma Watson, the Harry Potter alum had a very different reason for stepping away from the piano: a certain yellow ballroom gown.
Watson was already deep in prep for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, a role that required a grueling “Belle boot camp” involving horse training, dancing, and three months of singing lessons.
“I knew I had to do the work, and I had to be where I had to be,” Watson told Vanity Fair. “Scheduling conflict-wise, it just didn’t work out.”
She later clarified on Lorraine that she didn’t want to “half-arse” such a massive project by trying to juggle both.
Rumors swirled on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) that Watson had made “diva-like” demands—including moving rehearsals to London—but she dismissed the chatter as the “frustrating” result of names being attached to projects before contracts are even signed.
Where Are They Now?
In the end, the stars aligned for Stone and Gosling, while Watson’s Beauty and the Beast became a billion-dollar smash.
As for Teller? He is currently gearing up for his role as entertainment lawyer John Branca in the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, set to hit theaters in April .
He is still waiting for his big musical moment, though. “I will do something musical,” he promised Vanity Fair.
With Watson currently focusing on her studies at Oxford University and selective about her return to the screen, fans are still left wondering what might have been if these two had stayed in the “City of Stars.”
