Slum tourism, hip-hop scenes, and even… drugs?! Forget everything you know about the prim
and proper Anne Hathaway; why’d she star in a R-Rated gangster movie and how did fans miss it?
Anne Hathaway made her cinematic debut with Disney's "The Princess Diaries,"
a coming-of-age film that sees a young, bumbling teen discover that she's a princess.
"Me? A- A princess? Shut up!"
The film turned Hathaway into an ideal role model for young viewers, with reviewers like
Ben Falk of the BBC praising the star for holding her own alongside veteran actress, Julie Andrews.
The success of "The Princess Diaries" led to a sequel, which saw Hathaway grace the silver
screen again with Andrews. Hathaway later appeared in Disney's "Ella Enchanted," a fantasy film where
she played a girl who is forced to obey every command. With a string of hit family-friendly
roles, it was safe for audiences to assume that Hathaway wouldn't shy away from her Disney image.
In their review of ”Ella Enchanted," Decent Films dubbed Hathaway as the "quintessential
fairy-tale princess." Seems like a hard act to break out of, right? However,
in the following years, Hathaway did just that, taking on a slew of mature roles,
successfully breaking out of being typecast without disastrous effects on her career.
Despite confirming on "Watch What Happens Live” that there
is a script in the works for a potential "Princess
Diaries 3," it's safe to say that Hathaway has truly become more than just a Disney star.
With a string of box office hits like "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Interstellar,"
as well as mature, methodical roles in films like "Rachel Getting Married", Hathaway’s
had her fair share of movie successes. "Les Misérables,” which won Hathaway her first Oscar,
is one of her most successful. With that range of acting roles it’s easy
to forget some of her earlier parts that helped solidify her reign in Hollywood.
In 2005, Hathaway starred in the Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain" as the rich wife of Jake
Gyllenhaal's cowboy. Her appearance in the Ang Lee film proved she had more to offer than
princess-centric roles, and became one of her best films. That same year, she appeared in another
R-rated film, "Havoc," though this is one movie that general audiences seem to have forgotten.
The direct-to-DVD project focuses on wealthy teens of Los Angeles who’ve become enamored
with the city's thriving hip-hop scene. As they expose themselves to a less-sheltered existence,
they become involved with gangsters and drugs and even find themselves engaging in slum tourism.
"Havoc" features a notable who's who of rising 2000s talent aside. While Hathaway took the lead
role as teenager Allison Lang who enters an unfamiliar world, Joseph-Gordon-Levitt plays
her friend Sam, and Channing Tatum appears in a brief role as another teen character, Nick.
"Havoc" was released when Hathaway was in her early 20s, and it saw her play a much different
role from the one that initially made her famous. In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post Live,
she shared about her early acting experiences, saying:
"My whole M.O. in my twenties was 'be in as many different types of films as you can.
Work with as many different types of directors as you can.’
I think, in part, that’s what I wanted to do as an actor."
Unfortunately, the film “Havoc” largely fell into obscurity upon release, though it remains
a must-watch for Hathaway purists who want to see the star's early non-princess roles.
“So you were just there by yourself at an Anne Hathaway movie?!”
Despite mixed reviews, Rotten Tomatoes critic Rich Cline particularly praised Hathaway's performance,
noting how it marked a turning point in her “squeaky clean” persona.
Fans of "The Princess Diaries" will undoubtedly remember Lana Thomas, played by Mandy Moore,
the popular cheerleader who makes life hell for Mia, and her classmates at Grove High School.
Lana was a supporting player in "The Princess Diaries," but
the performer who portrayed her was actually the first choice to play the lead in "Havoc."
Per Billboard, Mandy Moore agreed to star in the gritty crime drama back in 2003,
but she didn't stick around for too long. While Hathaway was keen to take on more
challenging roles following "The Princess Diaries" and its sequel,
Moore felt uncomfortable with some of the more risqué elements in "Havoc."
The "Anne Hathaway" biography notes that Hathaway's former co-star was
especially put off by all of the sex, drugs, and violence in the movie,
so she parted ways with the project to focus on other ventures. Fortunately for the filmmakers,
Hathaway was up for the challenge and the rest is history.
That said, when it comes to Moore’s career, the decision to turn down "Havoc"
didn't derail her success by any means. She’s continued to enjoy success on the screen,
having appeared on hit TV shows such as "This Is Us" and "Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure."
She's also a successful pop star whose latest album, "In Real Life," was released to critical
acclaim earlier this year, with All Music praising it for its, quote, "welcoming, cheery sound."
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