KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s animated musical sensation, blending K-pop, demon-slaying, and infectious tunes into one epic adventure. The story follows HUNTR/X, a girl group secretly moonlighting as demon hunters, as they battle the demon king Gwi-ma and his boy band, Saja Boys, who aim to steal their fans and disrupt the balance of harmony. With a 96% rating and chart-topping songs, it’s no wonder this film has taken the world by storm.
The cast features a mix of talented voice actors and singers. Arden Cho voices Rumi, the fearless leader of HUNTR/X, while EJAE provides her singing voice. Mira, the group’s lead dancer, is voiced by May Hong, with vocals by Audrey Nuna. Zoey, the youngest member, is brought to life by Ji-young Yoo, with Rei Ami lending her voice for the songs. On the Saja Boys’ side, Ahn Hyo-seop voices Jinu, with Andrew Choi handling the vocals. The film’s soundtrack, crafted by top producers like Teddy Park and Grammy-winner Lindgren, is as much a star as the cast itself
In the 1964 film adaptation of My Fair Lady, Audrey Hepburn portrayed Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl undergoing a transformation into a refined lady. While Hepburn's performance was widely acclaimed, her singing voice was dubbed by Marni Nixon, a classically trained soprano known for providing the singing voices for several actresses in Hollywood musicals. Nixon's contributions to the film included songs such as "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "I Could Have Danced All Night."
Interestingly, Hepburn's voice was retained in certain parts of the film, including the first verse of "Just You Wait" and its reprise, as well as in portions of "The Rain in Spain." However, Nixon's voice predominates throughout the musical numbers. The dubbing process was kept confidential at the time, and Nixon's involvement was not publicly acknowledged until years later.
In the 1956 film adaptation of The King and I, Deborah Kerr portrayed Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher in 19th-century Siam. While Kerr's acting was widely praised, her singing voice was actually provided by Marni Nixon, a popular choice for dubbing. Nixon and Kerr worked closely together to ensure that the dubbed vocals matched Kerr's speaking voice, creating a seamless performance.
The process was no small feat. Nixon recorded her parts with a 50-piece orchestra, often using a voice modifier to match Kerr’s tone. In songs like “Shall We Dance,” Kerr’s talk-singing was interwoven with Nixon’s more challenging vocal sections. Interestingly, Kerr was one of the few actresses who publicly acknowledged the use of a vocal double. In interviews, she credited Nixon for her contributions, stating that they "split the songs" and that Nixon's involvement was integral to the film's success.
In the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, Natalie Wood portrayed Maria, the innocent Puerto Rican girl caught in a tragic love story. However, her singing voice was provided by Marni Nixon, unsurprisingly. Nixon's vocals replaced Wood's in all the songs, including the iconic "Tonight" duet. The process wasn’t without its challenges. Nixon had to adapt her voice to sound like a young Puerto Rican girl, keeping it light and unoperatic.
Wood was not initially aware that Nixon would be dubbing her entire performance. She was informed that Nixon would only be replacing the higher notes, but ultimately, Nixon's voice was used throughout the film. This decision was made to ensure the vocal performances met the high standards set by the film's musical numbers.
In the 1972 film adaptation of Man of La Mancha, Peter O'Toole portrayed the iconic role of Don Quixote. While O'Toole's acting was widely praised, his singing voice was not used in the film. Recognizing that his vocal abilities were not suited for the musical demands of the role, O'Toole collaborated with the production team to find a suitable voice double. After an initial attempt that did not match his speaking voice, tenor Simon Gilbert was chosen to provide the singing vocals for O'Toole's character.
Despite the dubbing, O'Toole's performance was convincing enough that many critics were unaware of the vocal substitution. This practice of using voice doubles was common in Hollywood musicals, allowing actors to focus on their performances while professional singers handled the musical aspects. In contrast, co-star Sophia Loren performed her own singing in the film.
In Gosford Park, Jeremy Northam portrayed the real-life songwriter and performer Ivor Novello, but when it came to the musical aspects of the role, Northam admitted he was a bit out of practice. While he did perform the singing and piano playing himself, he humorously recalled his earlier days of singing, joking that his performances could clear a room: “I used to empty restaurants for a living. They put me on for the second set and people would say, ‘Waiter, get me the check.’”
Despite his self-deprecating humor, Northam’s portrayal of Novello added an authentic charm to the film, which won Robert Altman the Golden Globe for Best Director. However, Northam has since confirmed he won’t be revisiting his singing career anytime soon, preferring to stick to acting—a decision he seems quite comfortable with.
In the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, Richard Beymer portrayed Tony, the romantic lead entangled in a tragic love story. However, Beymer's singing voice was provided by Jimmy Bryant, a talented singer and composer. Bryant's vocals replaced Beymer's in all the songs, including the iconic "Tonight" duet.
In the 1953 musical Torch Song, Joan Crawford portrayed Jenny Stewart, a Broadway diva with a fiery temper and a demanding attitude. While Crawford's acting was widely praised, her singing voice was dubbed by India Adams. Adams's vocals replaced Crawford's in all the songs, including the iconic "Two-Faced Woman."
Adams had originally recorded the songs for Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon, but the numbers were cut from that film and repurposed for Torch Song. This included the memorable “Two-Faced Woman,” which Crawford lip-synced to perfection.
In the 1952 film The Merry Widow, Lana Turner took on the role of Crystal Radek, a wealthy American widow who becomes entangled in the romantic intrigues of a fictional European kingdom. While Turner was known for her acting and beauty, her singing voice was not featured in the film. Recognizing her limitations in vocal performance, Turner was dubbed by Trudy Erwin, a seasoned vocalist known for providing the singing voices for several actresses in Hollywood musicals. Erwin's vocals replaced Turner's in all the songs, including the iconic "The Merry Widow Waltz."
Despite not singing herself, Turner’s charisma and screen presence brought the character to life, complementing Fernando Lamas, who played her romantic counterpart, Count Danilo. The film, a lavish Technicolor production by MGM, was a box office success and received two Oscar nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
In the 1958 film Gigi, Leslie Caron portrayed the title character, a young girl being groomed to be a courtesan in turn-of-the-century Paris. While Caron was a trained dancer, she was not a trained singer, and her singing voice was dubbed by Betty Wand. Wand, a seasoned vocalist known for dubbing the singing voices of actresses in Hollywood musicals, provided the vocals for Caron in several songs, including "The Night They Invented Champagne" and "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight."
Interestingly, Caron was not initially aware that her singing voice would be dubbed. In interviews, she expressed surprise upon learning that Wand's vocals would be used in the film. Caron's own voice was retained in certain parts of the film, including brief moments in "The Night They Invented Champagne." However, Wand's voice predominates throughout the musical numbers.
In Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek gave an award-winning performance as the iconic Freddy Mercury, lead singer of Queen. It’s considered one of the best biological films ever made, earning over $900 million worldwide.
While Malek’s portrayal of the rock star was extraordinary, and his physical transformation impressively accurate, the actor did not attempt to replicate the singer's voice. In fact, Malek admitted to the producers that he couldn’t sing! With the help of Marc Martel, a Canadian singer known for his ability to imitate Freddy Mercury, and some lip-singing on Malek’s end, the finished product sounded almost identical to the real thing!
Even though Zac Efron, who plays a basketball player turned singer in High School Musical, has a great voice, his singing was not used in the first movie of the franchise. Although he was recorded singing the songs, the final cut showed Efron’s face with another voice playing!
It turns out that Efron’s voice was thought to be too deep to come from a high school boy, so another singer was used to replace it. Drew Seeley, known for his role in the Disney movie Another Cinderella Story, is the singing voice behind Troy Bolton in the first High School Musical movie.
We all know Jennifer Lopez has got some major singing chops – she is one of the most iconic singers of the early 2000s! Despite her vocal prowess, her voice was not used in the 1997 biographical film Selena. Instead, the actress lip-synced to Selena Quintanilla’s original voice recordings to achieve vocal accuracy.
The actress’s extreme likeness to the Mexican-American singer made her the perfect choice for the role. Lopez delivered a breakthrough performance and a meaningful tribute to the late singer.
Rebecca Ferguson has made waves in the past few years, starring in several blockbuster hit films, including Dune and Mission Impossible. In the biographical musical film The Greatest Showman, Ferguson played the iconic Swedish singer Jenny Lind, also known as the “Swedish Nightingale.”
Surprisingly, Ferguson has a musical background, having studied at Adolf Fredrik's Music School as a teenager. Despite this, she was unsure about singing for this role. Luckily, Loren Allred was available to sing the stunning song “Never Enough,” giving a memorable vocal performance, while Ferguson's acting and lip-syncing made it shine.
Marion Cotillard wowed audiences in La Vie en Rose by playing the famous French singer Édith Piaf. Even though Cotillard didn’t actually sing in the film, she carefully lip-synced to Piaf’s original recordings.
She spent months studying Piaf’s unique mannerisms, breathing, and on-stage presence, making it seem as though the iconic voice was coming directly from her. Cotillard’s honest performance helped bring Piaf’s story to life!
In the Coen Brothers' film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, George Clooney plays the leader of the Soggy Bottom Boys, Ulysses Everett McGill. Clooney's character unexpectedly becomes a music star with the song "Man of Constant Sorrow." While Clooney fully embodied the on-screen performance, the incredible vocals audiences heard were not his own.
Bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski provided the actual singing voice for the hit song. The decision to use a professional bluegrass singer added authenticity to the film's soundtrack, which became a massive commercial success. Tyminski's raw, soulful voice was the perfect fit for the movie's Depression-era setting and its musical style.
In the classic 1965 film The Sound of Music, Christopher Plummer portrayed Captain von Trapp. While his co-star Julie Andrews performed all her own songs, Plummer’s powerful singing voice was mostly dubbed. Although Plummer had stage musical experience, the studio sought a distinct vocal quality for the Captain's songs.
To achieve this, singer Bill Lee was brought in to provide the rich baritone that audiences remember, while Plummer embodied the beloved character. This combination helped make the movie's soundtrack one of the most beloved in history, contributing to the film's enduring success for generations of fans.
In Disney's animated classic The Lion King, Matthew Broderick provided the speaking voice for the adult Simba. However, when it came time for Simba to sing beloved songs like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," a different voice was used. To give Simba a powerful and polished singing voice, Disney brought in a professional rock singer for the musical numbers.
Joseph Williams, the lead singer of the famous band Toto, provided the singing voice for adult Simba. Williams's dynamic vocal performance perfectly captured the epic, emotional tone of the songs, contributing to the soundtrack's massive global success!
In Disney's The Lion King, Jonathan Taylor Thomas provided the voice of young Simba. Although he provided stellar voice acting for the role, when the filmmakers were considering the iconic and demanding song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," they sought a different kind of talent to handle the musical performance.
The powerful singing voice for young Simba belongs to Jason Weaver. The combination of Thomas's charming line delivery and Weaver's show-stopping singing created the full, dynamic character of young Simba, contributing to the movie's timeless appeal.
In the 1992 hit comedy Sister Act, actress Wendy Makkena played the shy and soft-spoken nun, Sister Mary Robert. While Makkena perfectly portrayed the character's timid personality and eventual blossoming, the powerful singing voice that emerged was not her own. A professional singer was brought in for the show-stopping musical numbers.
Singer Andrea Robinson performed the stunning vocals for Sister Mary Robert. Her powerful voice provided the dramatic reveal during the song "Salve Regina," creating one of the film's most memorable and uplifting moments!
