Things You Might Not Know About The Pitch Perfect Movies

Published on June 11, 2015. Updated May 6, 2020

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The Pitch Perfect movies have a huge fan base and have become classics. The films follow an all-female a cappella singing group, The Barden Bella, as they navigate the complicated world of a cappella competitions. In the much-anticipated sequel, they prepare for the Worlds a cappella tournament – a competition that no American team has ever won. Check out our list of 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Pitch Perfect Movies:

10. Kristen Wiig as Gail?

The role of Gail was written for Kristen Wiig, but she couldn’t take it because of a scheduling conflict. Amy Poehler was also considered for the role, but decided to pass. Elizabeth Banks, one of the film’s producers, eventually took it.

©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

9. The Role of Beca

Producers Elizabeth Banks and Paul Brooks said that Anna Kendrick was their first choice for the role of Beca. “I saw Anna in Up in the Air and thought it was the most exquisite, elegant, balanced, sublime performance. Anna was our first choice for the role of Beca,” Brooks said.

©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

8. Fat Amy

Rebel Wilson was offered the role of Fat Amy right after her audition. “There’s this beautiful openness to the way Rebel approaches everything, and that’s what works great for the character. She’s fearless,” director Jason Moore said.

©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

7. Demi Lovato Passed on a Role

Rebel Wilson offered Demi Lovato a role as one of the Bellas in “Pitch Perfect 2,” but Lovato declined. She wanted to focus on her music and tour commitments.

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6. The Burrito Fight

During the shooting scene at the gas station in “Pitch Perfect,” Adam DeVine accidentally hit a cameraman in the face with a burrito. “Yeah, it was when I was supposed to throw a burrito at Rebel, and he said to aim for him, thinking I wouldn’t hit him, and I pegged him right in the face,” DeVine told Vulture.

Universal Pictures

5. Director Elizabeth Banks

“Pitch Perfect 2” is Elizabeth Banks’ directorial debut.

©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

4. Adam Devine Wasn’t Prepared for His Audition

Adam DeVine wasn’t exactly prepared for his audition for “Pitch Perfect.” “I thought it was a baseball movie that I was auditioning for,” he said. “They asked me to sing a song and I was like, ‘I’m not really a singer,’ and they told me, ‘You have to sing a song.’ So I sang, ‘Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy or the evening TV,’ which is the Full House theme song, so I don’t know how I got the role.’”

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3. Improvisation

For “Pitch Perfect 2,” Anna Kendrick improvised nearly half of her lines.

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2. Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld will be joining the cast of “Pitch Perfect 2” as a new member of the Barden Bellas. Her mother in the film, who is played by Katey Sagal, was once a Bella.

1. Based on a Book

The film is based on Mickey Rapkin’s non-fiction book “Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory.” He had spent a season covering competitive collegiate a cappella and wrote about the singing, groupies, partying and rivalries.