The Enchanted Scene That James Marsden Insisted On Changing
In 2007, the Disney musical "Enchanted" charmed viewers and critics alike with its earnest, witty take on a princess's search for love (via Rotten Tomatoes). Merging animation with live-action hijinks, the film centers on Giselle (Amy Adams), a young woman who lands in the gritty streets of New York City on the day of her wedding-to-be with Prince Edward (James Marsden). The imperious ruler of Andalasia, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), conspires to rid the kingdom of Giselle in order to maintain her hold on the throne, using magic to send the would-be princess away from the land of happily-ever-afters. While struggling to make sense of her new environment, Giselle finds an ally in cynical single father Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey).
As the unlikely duo get to know each other, the forlorn Prince Edward desperately searches throughout Manhattan to reunite with Giselle. Along with belting out impressive melodies, Marsden leans into his role with a bright comedic shine. As one reviewer articulated, "The supporting cast is good, with Marsden in particular showing hammy comic aplomb (and a strong singing voice) as Prince Edward" (via The Atlantic). In one iconic scene, Prince Edward mistakes a city bus for a treacherous creature and stabs it with his sword. During an interview with Collider, Marsden said, "I can safely say that I don't think anyone has ever done this before; in tights and puffy sleeves, stabbing a bus in the middle of Times Square. I'm the first." However, this was far from the only scene that Marsden fully made his own with Edward's good-natured bravado.
Marsden asked that cyclists actually collide with him while shooting a scene
In the middle of the film, James Marsden's Prince Edward jumps from a bridge in Central Park and lands nimbly on his feet. Hoping to call out to Giselle, he opens his arms and begins singing for his lost love. Almost immediately, a group of fast-paced cyclists knocks into the oblivious nobleman, who falls to his knees. In the same interview with Collider, Marsden revealed that the production team initially attempted to shoot the scene with a light touch. Rather than push forcefully into Marsden, the stuntmen were "very delicate" when bumping into the actor. However, during playbacks, Marsden believed that the moment failed to elicit the level of humor needed for the scene. As a result, he said that he told the cyclists, "Just take me out!" Marsden added, "[H]e knocked the hell out of me but it's funnier. My voice squeaks and he just knocks me down." In the end, the decision certainly appears to have been the right one — it is a scene that expertly, and funnily, demonstrates that Prince Edward is no longer in a picture-perfect fairytale, safe from any and all real-world obstacles.
Luckily, the 2007 film isn't the last time that fans will get a chance to see Prince Edward in all of his silly, well-meaning glory. An upcoming sequel called "Disenchanted" is slated to premiere on Disney+ later this year. The film will reportedly track what has become of all the beloved characters, including Marsden's Prince Edward (via Us Weekly).