<P> However, the start date was pushed to November 1990 at both Babelsberg Studios in Munich, Germany and Barrandov Studios in Prague, Czech Republic . Production for The Phantom of the Opera was stalled with Lloyd Webber and Brightman's divorce . "Everything got tied up in settlements", Schumacher reflected . "Then my career took off and I was really busy ." As a result, The Phantom of the Opera languished in development limbo for Warner Bros. throughout the 1990s . In February 1997, Schumacher considered returning, but eventually dropped out in favour of Batman Unchained, Runaway Jury and Dreamgirls . The studio was keen to cast John Travolta for the lead role, but also held discussions with Antonio Banderas, who undertook vocal preparation and sang the role of the Phantom in the TV special Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration . </P> <P> Schumacher and Lloyd Webber restarted development for The Phantom of the Opera in December 2002 . It was then announced in January 2003 that Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group had purchased the film rights from Warner Bros. in an attempt to produce The Phantom of the Opera independently . As a result, Lloyd Webber invested $6 million of his own money . The Phantom of the Opera was produced on a $55 million budget . A further $15 million was used for marketing, bringing the final budget to $70 million . Warner Bros. was given a first look deal for distribution; the studio did not sign on until June 2003, when the principal cast was chosen . </P> <P> Hugh Jackman was offered the chance to audition for the Phantom, but he faced scheduling conflicts with Van Helsing . "They rang to ask about my availability", Jackman explained in an April 2003 interview, "probably about 20 other actors as well . I wasn't available, unfortunately . So, that was a bummer ." "We needed somebody who has a bit of rock and roll sensibility in him", Andrew Lloyd Webber explained . "He's got to be a bit rough, a bit dangerous; not a conventional singer . Christine is attracted to the Phantom because he's the right side of danger ." Director Joel Schumacher had been impressed with Gerard Butler's performance in Dracula 2000 . Prior to his audition, Butler had no professional singing experience and had only taken four voice lessons before singing "The Music of the Night" for Lloyd Webber . </P> <P> Katie Holmes, who began working with a vocal coach, was the front - runner for Christine Daaé in March 2003 . She was later replaced by Anne Hathaway, a classically trained soprano, in 2004 . However, Hathaway dropped out of the role because the production schedule of the film overlapped with The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which she was contractually obligated to make . Hathaway was then replaced with Emmy Rossum . The actress modeled the relationship between the Phantom and Christine after Suzanne Farrell and George Balanchine . Patrick Wilson was cast as Raoul based on his previous Broadway theatre career . For the role of Carlotta, Minnie Driver devised an over-the - top, camp performance as the egotistical prima donna . Despite also lacking singing experience, Ciarán Hinds was cast by Schumacher as Richard Firmin; the two had previously worked together on Veronica Guerin . Ramin Karimloo also briefly appears as the portrait of Gustave Daaé, Christine's father . Karimloo later played the Phantom as well as the role of Raoul on London's West End . </P>

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