• Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu starred in Charlie’s Angels, which was a box office success
• Barrymore and Juvonen played a major role in getting the movie made
• There were many rewrites, on-set tension, and dramatic moments during filming
Here is what happened:
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu were iconic as the leading trio in the 2000 blockbuster film, Charlie’s Angels. Their undeniable chemistry on-screen brought the film massive success, even though it was anything but heavenly behind the scenes. Despite rewrites, tensions among the stars, and more, the film became a box office hit and holds a special place in many fans’ hearts.
Producer Nancy Juvonen mentioned Charlie’s Angels to Barrymore while filming a separate movie, leading them to pitch their ideas to Sony Pictures and eventually make the movie their way. One of Barrymore’s main stipulations was to ban the use of guns, showcasing her dedication to creating a girl-powered film. She immediately thought of Diaz for the role of Natalie and described the movie’s concept as “girls jumping out of helicopters, driving fast boats, doing kung fu, and wearing tons of hot clothes.”
Lucy Liu ultimately secured the role of Alex, and the producers attempted to get the original Angels to make cameo appearances, though it didn’t come to fruition. Leonardo Goldberg, who produced the original 1970s TV series, claimed to have had ongoing discussions with the original Angels, but they ultimately didn’t work out. Barrymore, a Harry Potter fan, kept the crew entertained by reading aloud from the book series. The script reportedly underwent 30 rewrites by dozens of writers, and the making of the film was filled with laughter, love, and challenges.
