‘Smurfs’ Is a Rihanna Passion Project: “She Was Pursuing It”

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It might seem challenging to convince Rihanna to act in the upcoming Smurfs film, but as it turns out, that could have been the simplest step in the whole production process for director Chris Miller.

In the animated film, the renowned star not only lends her voice to Smurfette but also produces the project and contributes original music. During the Los Angeles premiere on Sunday, Miller playfully told The Hollywood Reporter that he wished he could claim credit for recruiting Rihanna, but in truth, “Rihanna had expressed interest in portraying Smurfette in the Smurfs movie; she was eager and determined to get the role. After speaking with her, it quickly became apparent that ‘She should be Smurfette. She needs to bring her unique character, her distinctive voice, and her authentic self to the role.’

Beyond performing two tunes for the movie, Miller also highlights “numerous sound clips, stunning acoustic backdrops that Rihanna contributed to” and when it came to her voice recording in the studio, he mentioned, “It’s quite enjoyable because she’s open and she has a great sense of humor.

At the movie premiere, Rihanna – a known enthusiast of the Smurfs – attended with her two little boys RZA and Riot. As writer Pam Brady shared, during script development and character creation, Rihanna had already joined the project, and her influence significantly shaped the portrayal of Smurfette.

In an interview, Rihanna expressed her admiration for Smurfette, saying she’s tough and stands up to everyone. This immediately resonated with Brady as he recognized the character in a new light. He admitted that despite our pretenses of knowing what we were doing, when Rihanna showed interest, we decided to run with it and write the story accordingly.

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During an interview, Rihanna praised Smurfette for her strength and boldness. This perspective struck a chord with Brady, making him see the character differently. Although we tried to act confident about our understanding of the project, when Rihanna showed interest in it, we realized she had the right ideas, so we decided to incorporate those thoughts into the storyline.

The movie boasts an impressive ensemble voice acting team including John Goodman, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, James Corden, Natasha Lyonne, Alex Winter, Nick Kroll, Sandra Oh, Amy Sedaris, Xolo Maridueña, and Billie Lourd.

Waddingham, who has recently created an animated series of Smurfs, Lilo & Stitch, and The Garfield Movie for her daughter’s enjoyment, is also a devoted fan of the Smurfs. She was thrilled with Rihanna leading the cast, calling it “brilliant, inspired casting for a new generation” because Rihanna’s voice is instantly recognizable and she exudes an undeniable toughness.

Maridueña stated that Rihanna’s participation played a significant role in building anticipation for the film and he also joined with his younger relatives in mind. He often considers things that his little sisters can watch and understand, as the type of content he creates is not suitable for their taste. Therefore, something like “Smurfs” aligns well with this intention.

Maridueña mentioned that Rihanna’s presence contributed greatly to the film’s excitement and he also decided to join the project considering his younger relatives. Since they can’t appreciate the kind of content he usually produces, something like “Smurfs” fits perfectly with what they can enjoy.

Smurfs hits theaters on Friday.

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2025-07-14 20:24