In a recent interview with USA Today, Carax confirmed that he did write a part in the “Annette” script specifically for Rihanna. The part was a cameo appearance in which Rihanna would perform with the eponymous character who, as a baby, possesses the rare gift of an angelic singing voice. Rihanna declined the role.

“It was a small part written specifically for her,” Carax said of the planned cameo. “She was supposed to play Rihanna. When Baby Annette becomes famous, there was a duet between the puppet and Rihanna. But then Rihanna feels upstaged by this baby.” Related Oscars 2023: Best Original Song Predictions ‘Lift Me Up’ Rises to Frontrunner Status in Best Original Song Race Related 7 New Netflix Shows in October 2022 – and the Best Reasons to Watch Martin Scorsese’s Favorite Movies: 53 Films the Director Wants You to See
“Annette” opened to 2021 Cannes Film Festival to a rave review from IndieWire’s Eric Kohn, who called the film a “mind-blowing musical fantasia.” Kohn added: “As a pure experimental ride expressed entirely through song, ‘Annette’ works in fits and starts with the same surreal blend of haunting beauty and dry, absurdist humor that Carax brought to ‘Holy Motors.’” Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard star in “Annette” as a comedian and an opera singer whose romance leads to the birth of a special child. The film features original songs written by Sparks, who developed “Annette” with Carax for nearly a decade. Sparks spoke to IndieWire ahead of the film’s theatrical release and revealed the origins of “Annette” first began with a scrapped Tim Burton musical. “The first time we wrote a full-blown movie musical was our adaptation of ‘Mai, the Psychic Girl’ for Tim Burton, which didn’t get made,” Sparks member Ron Mael said. “We learned pretty early on from that experience how to incorporate dialogue into a musical setting that feels naturalistic while still feeling stylized. That’s something we really enjoy — incorporating things that don’t ordinarily find people breaking into song” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.