- Behind-the-Scenes Friction: Kristen Bell has revealed she initially had significant creative disagreements and tension with “Nobody Wants This” creator Erin Foster over her character, Joanne.
- An ‘Eye-Rolling’ Confession: The actress admitted to her initial skepticism, confessing there were times she would “just roll my eyes” at Foster and say, “Ugh, you don’t understand.”
- Success Brought Clarity: It wasn’t until the Netflix series became a runaway hit that Bell fully understood and appreciated Foster’s creative vision, proving that the audience’s reaction was the ultimate validation.
- From Doubt to Praise: Bell now champions Foster, predicting her unique style will become an industry standard, saying people will one day refer to works as “Erin Foster-esque.”
Creative Clashes Behind the Netflix Hit
While audiences fell in love with the Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This, star Kristen Bell has revealed that the on-set harmony wasn’t always perfect. In a candid interview, Bell, who also serves as a producer, admitted to experiencing significant tension with show creator Erin Foster over the direction of her character, the agnostic podcaster Joanne.
Bell recalled her initial struggle to connect with the character’s motivations, which led to friction between the two creatives. “I pushed back with constant questioning because I didn’t have the same hooks into the emotional math of my character that I’m used to having,” Bell explained to The Hollywood Reporter. This disconnect led to some frank and frustrating moments on set. “There were times where I’d just roll my eyes at [Erin],” Bell confessed, “and be like, ‘Ugh, you don’t understand.’”
Validation Through Viral Success
The turning point for Bell came not during production, but after the show was released to widespread acclaim. The massive public response was the “proof in the pudding” that validated Foster’s unique, true-to-life approach, which was inspired by her own romance with husband Simon Tikhman.
“Once I saw the show, and to be honest, once I saw people seeing the show… I was like, ‘Oh wow, this girl is writing about what happens to your neighbor or your girlfriend,’” Bell said. “It was because Erin and I finally saw each other.”
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From Friction to Future ‘Reference Point’
Having seen the massive success and audience connection, Bell’s perspective has completely transformed. She now holds Foster’s writing in the highest regard, predicting she will become a benchmark for creativity in Hollywood. “Now, if you ask me, I’d say, ‘I believe Erin Foster will become a reference point in TV and film meetings going forward,'” Bell stated. “People will say, ‘Oh, it’s Tim Burton-esque. It’s Wes Anderson-esque. It’s Erin Foster-esque.’ I just wasn’t adept enough in season one to realize it.”
A Shared Struggle for a Unique Vision
Bell wasn’t the only one who initially had doubts. Foster herself revealed that her pilot script, based on her real-life love story, was rejected by multiple studios for feeling “too small.” However, her persistence paid off with Netflix, and she was determined to protect her vision. “I was at a place where I thought, ‘This is my only chance to have a show,'” Foster explained, “‘and I’m not going to let everybody else convince me that I don’t know what I’m doing.'” That conviction has now clearly paid off, with a second season set to premiere on October 23rd.
Image Referance: https://www.eonline.com/news/1424176/nobody-wants-this-kristen-bell-on-erin-foster-tension