![phantom of the opera movie cast singing phantom of the opera movie cast singing](http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2000000/Gerard-in-Phantom-gerard-butler-2090883-724-540.jpg)
Catherine Zeta-Jones was offered the role, but didn't want to do another musical after Chicago. 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. She was later replaced by Anne Hathaway, a classically trained soprano, in 2004.
![phantom of the opera movie cast singing phantom of the opera movie cast singing](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1TZF0sl4I0/SBjNtMyP7XI/AAAAAAAAAR8/xXcKBeY32jQ/s320/phantom_of_the_opera.jpg)
While the Phantom's nationality and family background is never explicitly stated, it can be assumed that he probably wasn't Scottish like Gerard Butler.
![phantom of the opera movie cast singing phantom of the opera movie cast singing](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/6egb3SbNS53Y3aTuXTQjtFS9Tmc.jpg)
It is set in France, and it is assumed that most characters are French.