Here's Why It Took So Long To Cast Taylor Zakhar Perez And Nicholas Galitzine In "Red, White & Royal Blue"

1 year ago 12

"We saw literally hundreds and hundreds of actors."

During a recent interview with the Wrap, director Matthew Lopez revealed it took months to find the actors best suited to play the leading roles of Prince Henry and Alex Claremont-Diaz, which ultimately went to actors Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez.

Closeup of Matthew Lopez

“I was casting this film, Alex and Henry specifically, for about five months,” Matthew told the Wrap. “It took that long. We saw literally hundreds and hundreds of actors, especially for Alex.”

Matthew Lopez and Taylor Zakhar Perez

But once Taylor and Nicholas performed a chemistry read, they immediately captured Matthew's attention and left a lasting impression on him.

Frazer Harrison / FilmMagic / Getty Images, Axelle / FilmMagic / Getty Images

Believe it or not, Nicholas and Taylor's first meeting was actually on Zoom because they were in different cities at the time. But that didn't stop their undeniable chemistry from being felt onscreen.

“They both understood these characters implicitly,” he added, saying that they both were perfect for the roles. “That, for me, was the most important thing. The reason I wanted to make this movie was those two characters.”

Matthew knew he had to be patient when casting, because he really wanted to get it right. He was willing to wait until something "popped," and that's just what happened with Taylor and Nicholas.

"There was something really beautiful about the way these two very different types of actors came together to create this partnership. There was a real sense of trust and respect for one another.”

Closeup of Matthew Lopez

And according to some fan reactions, Taylor and Nicholas were worth the wait:

And if you need some more convincing, be sure to check out Red, White & Royal Blue, which is currently streaming on Prime Video.

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