'The Perfect Couple' Cast Protested Opening Dance Scene—Now It’s a TikTok Hit
From mutiny to TikTok trend! 🎉
The cast of Netflix’s upcoming murder mystery series "The Perfect Couple" nearly revolted when director Susanne Bier proposed an unexpected twist—a flashmob-style dance sequence for the opening credits.
Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, the series follows the dark and twisted secrets of the wealthy Winbury family after a body is discovered during a wedding.
Despite the show’s suspenseful nature, Bier envisioned an upbeat start that clashed with the cast’s expectations.
In the opening scene, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Liev Schreiber, and the rest of the ensemble cast perform a lively dance on the beach to Meghan Trainor’s “Criminals,” all while dressed in formal wear.
Bier explained her motivation: “I wanted to set the tone by telling the audience, ‘This is going to be fun.’ With everything feeling so gloomy nowadays, I thought it was important to inject some joy into the show.”
However, the cast wasn’t sold on the idea and quickly formed a WhatsApp group to voice their objections. Meghann Fahy, who plays social media influencer Merritt, shared, “Everyone was on that group saying they didn’t want to do this because we just didn’t understand.”
Even though the dance was meant to be lighthearted, the actors found it hard to fit it into the tone of their characters.
Ishaan Khatter, playing the best man Scooter, admitted that even with his dance background, the routine didn’t make sense.
“We were like, ‘Where does this fit into the scheme of things? This was not part of the assignment!’” Kidman, who portrays the Winbury matriarch Greer, also struggled with the concept, noting, “I didn’t feel like Greer would dance. I felt like Greer would watch.”
The skepticism wasn’t limited to the cast. Producers were concerned about finding enough time to shoot the elaborate scene.
Bier, determined to make it happen, insisted on filming despite the tight schedule.
“Normally, you’d spend a full day, maybe two, shooting something like that, but we did it in one and a half hours,” Bier explained. “I had to convince everyone to stick with it, and I just kept saying, ‘I want it! I want it!’”
Liev Schreiber, who plays Greer’s husband Tag, was the only cast member fully on board.
“The entire cast had a mutiny about this idea except for me,” he said. “I was already in my trailer practicing the dance moves.” Choreographer Charm La’Donna praised the actors’ efforts, highlighting how they all eventually embraced the challenge: “They’re fast learners, and we had a lot of fun on the beach.”
Despite the initial backlash, the scene was ultimately a success, bringing unexpected joy and laughter to the set. Fahy reflected, “The God’s honest truth is that at the end of the day, we were very, very joyful about it. We all ended up giving in to it.”
The sequence, which started as a cast protest, is now making waves on TikTok, where fans are eagerly recreating the moves with enthusiasm. Bier’s creative gamble paid off, turning an awkward dance into a viral sensation that has everyone talking and sharing their own versions online.
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