Why Jennifer Hudson Beat Out Beyonce for a Sex & the City Movie Role

One of the most popular television series of all time, HBO's "Sex & the City", is finally being made into a full-length feature film. The talk of Tinseltown is that all the major players in the hit show will be reprising their roles in the film. This could make no one happier than the many fans who assembled around their TV sets to catch the antics of sexpot Samantha, Carrie the Shoe-a-Holic, snappy Miranda, and Charlotte the Hopeful Romantic. There has been controversy over whether the movie would even be made. And according to online gossip site, MediaTakeOut.com, there appears to be even more drama going on behind the scenes of this production. Althought MediaTakeOut is not always the most accurate source of the latest celebrity news, the site very often uncovers stories with more than a few grains of truth. This latest drama centers around newcomer to "The City," Dreamgirl, Jennifer Hudson-who has been selected to portray Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the movie. Per the gossip rag, both Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce Knowles were interested in the role, but Jennifer ended up winning the part based on a number of factors. Here are possibly the real reasons why Hudson ended up scoring the role over her bigger-than-life Dreamgirls co-star...

No Divas Allowed

Per MediaTakeout, producers were soured by the prospect of casting Beyonce because of certain demands that she made as a condition of her being part of the cast. Amongst some of her demands, she was rumored to have insisted that her movie wardrobe consist only of items from the House of Dereon (hers and Tina Knowles' line) clothing line. The public may never know whether this rumor holds a grain of truth. But other persons in the entertainment industry have alluded to Beyonce being somewhat of a "diva." Chalk it up to her Destiny's Child fame, or perhaps to the litany of promotional ads and her supersaturated media coverage; it is a rumor that has followed the curvy songstress for quite some time.

Furthermore, the mere presence of Beyonce in any film has the potential to overshadow all intents of the movie. Filmmakers are looking to capture the attention of audiences who reveled in the television series. Adding Beyonce to the mix might just spoil the authenticity that people are expecting. In any event, Jennifer Hudson's tranquil demeanor, and down-to-earth personality have more than won over execs who have decided to cast her. Despite her transition from Burger King "alum" to American Idol, to Oscar-winner, the shapely singer has garnered fans from every age group and every genre of entertainment. Surely, it must be this aspect of the newcomer's character that producers felt would be perfect for "Sex & the City," the movie.

And Speaking of "The Oscar"...

There are very few people who have won Academy Awards upon starring in their debut films. Jennifer Hudson is one of those people. Add to that list of accomplishments, the fact that she is the fourth African American woman to ever win an Oscar, and she's got quite an impressive collection of victories on her hands. Based on multiple media reviews and word-of-mouth, Hudson was awarded the Oscar based on her gritty performance as Effie, the scorned singer in "Dreamgirls."

Beating out 782 other actresses for the coveted role, her ability to dive into the part unabashedly (even gaining 20 pounds for it) was what enchanted both audiences and critics alike. The primary success of the "Sex & the City" series was based on the realistic quality it possessed. The characters in the TV show, though colorful, could all be believed on some level. The same quality performance will be expected by fans for a full-length feature film. Thus, who better to cast the part of Carrie's trusty assistant, than one of Hollywood's most talented newcomers?

Uptown Girl (Singer & the City)

Here's another thing that people may not have considered with regard to execs passing over Beyonce Knowles' in favor of Hudson: geography. Despite attempts to water down her glamorous appeal and spicy Texas accent, Beyonce Knowles is still very much a southern gal. Of course the concept of Southerners in New York City is not a foreign notion (pun not intended). But it would behoove casting directors and producers not to cast someone who has an affiliation with a "northern" metropolitan city.

Jennifer Hudson, being from Chicago, brought with her that uptown flair to the set of "Dreamgirls." More than likely, her character in the "Sexy & the City" film will be touched with some of the same citified shtick that fans of the HBO show are used to. Either way, it is highly likely that her diction, and ability to transform on screen will translate well into a role that places her amongst City girls like Carrie and her crew.