“It was like the world’s most uncomfortable blind date,” writer David Wild told the Ringer.
This year marks a decade sinceJames FrancoandAnne Hathaway’sinfamous monologue at the 83rd annualAcademy Awards.
Wild also called that night “an incredibly dark significant comic event in my life.”
The previous year’s emcees,Alec BaldwinandSteve Martin, had 116 years between them.
The producers' unofficial first choice,Justin Timberlake, turned down the opportunity.
“She wanted to check that it was positively reflecting women,” Amram said.
“That was a red flag.”
And once the duo got started working together, it was apparent they had completely different personalities.
“She showed up ready to play and committed 110 percent,” Rubin recalled.
“And he was a great guy but often looked like he had just woken up from a nap.
There was some friction when the actress offered Franco an acting suggestion during rehearsals, according to the writer.
Yet throughout the process, the writers said Franco and Hathaway never bonded.
“Anne had gone to her dressing room for a minute,” he said.
“James was smiling at her stand-in.”
And over the years, Franco and Hathaway have spoken about it separately.
“We got a lot of s— for it.
In 2012, Hathaway said she “had a blast doing it.”
she toldThe Hollywood Reporterin 2012.
“It was great!
And I think it looked slightly manic and ‘hyper-cheerleadery’ onscreen.
But I have no regrets about doing it.”
