Securing Rihanna's participation in the latest "Smurfs" movie might initially seem an ambitious endeavor, yet for director Chris Miller, it transpired to be the most effortless aspect of the entire production. The global icon not only lends her voice to the animated character of Smurfette but also doubles as a producer and contributes original music to the project. During the Los Angeles premiere on Sunday, Miller playfully remarked to The Hollywood Reporter that while he'd love to take credit for recruiting Rihanna, the truth was that "Rihanna herself was eager to portray Smurfette in the film; she was the one pursuing it, desiring it. Our conversation quickly cemented the fact that she was the perfect fit, bringing her unique perspective, voice, and authenticity to the role."
Beyond composing two songs for the film, Miller highlighted "numerous needle drops and exquisite sonic tapestries that Rihanna played a pivotal role in creating." Speaking of her voice recording sessions, he enthused, "It was a delight because she's open-minded and has a fantastic sense of humor."
Rihanna, accompanied by her two young sons, RZA and Riot, at the premiere, admitted to being a die-hard "Smurfs" fan. Her influence was profound in shaping the film's portrayal of Smurfette, as writer Pam Brady recounted. "Rihanna did an interview stating that Smurfette was 'badass, taking no nonsense from anyone.' I thought, 'That's Smurfette!' And instantly, her vision for the character solidified our approach. We pretended we had it all figured out, but really, we thought, 'Rihanna's got it; let's write that!'"
The film boasts a star-studded voice cast, including John Goodman, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, James Corden, Natasha Lyonne, Alex Winter, Nick Kroll, Sandra Oh, Amy Sedaris, Xolo Maridueña, and Billie Lourd.
Waddingham, who revealed she had recently lent her voice to a trio of animated films – "Smurfs," "Lilo & Stitch," and "The Garfield Movie" – for her young daughter, also confessed to being a lifelong "Smurfs" enthusiast. She lauded Rihanna's casting as "brilliant and inspiring for a new generation, given her instantly recognizable voice and unapologetic badassery."
Maridueña echoed this sentiment, stating that Rihanna's involvement "was a significant factor in the anticipation surrounding the film." He added that he signed on with his younger family members in mind: "I have little sisters, and I'm always looking for content they can enjoy and understand. The kind of work I do isn't really their cup of tea, so something like 'Smurfs' makes perfect sense."
"Smurfs" is set to release in theaters on Friday.
