Voicemails for Isabelle originally starred someone else as Jill | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

Netflix’s latest film Voicemails for Isabelle was originally in development with a different actress set to take on the role that ultimately went to Zoey Deutch as Jill. The streaming service’s new release features Deutch as an aspiring pastry chef grappling with the heartbreaking loss of her sister, Isabelle (portrayed by Ciara Bravo). As she begins leaving therapeutic voicemails to her sister’s old number, she remains unaware the line has been reassigned to estate agent Wes (Nick Robinson), who slowly finds himself falling for the enchanting voice on the other end.

The two eventually cross paths in San Francisco, but Wes finds himself wrestling with a secret that threatens to destroy their budding romance. While both leading actors are well-established in the romantic comedy genre — Deutch recognised for Set It Up alongside Glen Powell and Robinson gaining prominence through the LGBTQ+ high school favourite Love, Simon — the project initially had quite a different vision.

The film was first announced back in 2019 and was set to be helmed by Sharon Maguire, the director behind the original Bridget Jones’s Diary and its 2016 follow-up, Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Hollywood star Hailee Steinfeld was originally attached to the leading role, having recently appeared in the 2018 Transformers spin-off Bumblebee and voiced Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen in the critically acclaimed animated feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

She has also enjoyed a flourishing music career, contributing her singing abilities to the second and third instalments of the Pitch Perfect series. Voicemails for Isabelle was among numerous film projects derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Hollywood writers’ strikes.

The reasons behind Steinfeld’s departure from the project have never been made public, though her schedule has undoubtedly become considerably busier since the film was first announced.

Subsequently, director Maguire also stepped away from the production, with screenwriter Leah McKendrick — who also appears as Breeda — taking over directorial responsibilities.

The film was originally produced by Sony Pictures and widely expected to receive a theatrical release before Netflix assumed distribution rights.

In the years that followed, Steinfeld’s career has gone from strength to strength, further expanding her superhero credentials when she took on the role of Kate Bishop in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, starring alongside Jeremy Renner.

She also featured in last year’s horror blockbuster Sinners, directed by Black Panther filmmaker Ryan Coogler, which earned a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.

Voicemails for Isabelle is available to stream on Netflix.