The opening credits of the Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” are filled with palpable joy and energy, but it’s fascinating to know that they almost didn’t come to be. Each episode starts with a lively choreographed dance, which was almost scrapped due to resistance from the cast, as reported by a recent Variety article.
This gripping whodunit, based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, revolves around a wealthy family in Nantucket, Massachusetts, forced to delay a wedding when the maid of honor is found dead just before her best friend’s nuptials. Director Susanne Bier aimed to infuse the show with a sense of fun to counter the gloomy backdrop of the story. She devised a beachfront flash mob-style dance sequence set to Meghan Trainor’s “Criminals” to set the tone for the series.
However, the cast was initially apprehensive about the idea. Reportedly, some cast members even formed a WhatsApp group to express their dislike for the dance and the difficulty of learning choreography. Meghann Fahy, one of the actors, admitted to having a significant issue with learning choreography and felt nervous about it.
Even Nicole Kidman, who plays the family matriarch Greer Garrison Winbury, was uncertain about the opening credits, feeling that her character wouldn’t participate in the dance but would rather observe. This behind-the-scenes struggle adds an extra layer of intrigue to the show’s already mysterious story.
Ishaan Khatter, who portrays Shooter, the groom’s best man, expressed his initial confusion about the choreography, wondering how it fit into the overall story. Despite reported concerns from the show’s producers, director Susanne Bier persisted and managed to shoot the sequence in under two hours. Eventually, actors Brian Fahy and Nicole Kidman embraced the idea, and choreographer Charm La’Donna enjoyed the “fun day on the beach.” In contrast, Liev Schreiber, who was always enthusiastic about the dance, revealed that he had eagerly practiced the moves while the rest of the cast had reservations. He expressed disappointment about not having more opportunities to showcase his dancing skills in the show.
