The Perfect Couple, Netflix's newest addition to its cosy crime category, has won acclaim in multiple areas: the outfits, the cast - comprising of stars including Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson, Meghann Fahy, Liev Schrieber and Ishaan Khatter - and its binge-watchable nature. But there is one scene in particular that has set the internet alight and left us absent-mindedly humming along to Meghan Trainor's song Criminals like a broken record. It is of course that iconic title sequence, where The Perfect Couple ensemble gather on the beach to perform a choreographed routine_._
While it's been an instant hit with viewers, many of whom admitted they refused to skip the unserious intro before settling down to enjoy each of the six episodes, the cast took longer to align with director Susanne Bier's vision for the opening. In fact, it has emerged that many cast members - Nicole Kidman included - were part of a WhatsApp group campaigning against the idea.
Susanne previously told IndieWire about the inspiration for The Perfect Couple's juxtapositional opening, saying, 'I've gotten so bored with title sequences. There was, at some point in the script, a nightmare sequence where there was a dance. I was like, "No, I don’t want to do that." But there was something about the word "dance" that stayed with me, and I was like, "We are going to do the title sequence as a dance with everybody." First of all, it’s going to be really joyful and fun, but it’s also going to suggest to the audience, "Hey, you are allowed to laugh here. You don’t have to think this is very dark and very serious because it’s not."'
But speaking to numerous US outlets on The Perfect Couple's promo trail, Nicole, 57 - who has a leading role as Greer Garrison Winbury in the mystery drama - revealed that it was only Liev who was on board with Susanne's idea from the beginning. The actress admitted, 'I was like, "No, I don’t want to do it." And then the director was like, "You have to do it." I was like, "Okay then, I’ll do it as Greer." I hope you noticed I danced as Greer, not as Nicole.'
The decorated film star added that she 'didn't feel Greer would dance' and would instead be on the sidelines watching, but is 'so glad' that the crew managed to get everyone involved.
Meanwhile, Eve Hewson expanded on how anti the cast truly was about the routine. She said, 'We all love [Susanne] we'd do anything for her but we all protested. People were calling their agents, they were having meltdowns, Liev was the only one who was like, "I'm doing the dance." He was so into it.'
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.