Here's why Gemma Arterton replaced Noomi Rapace in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters from 2013. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a sequel - of sorts - to the classic fairy tale of the same name. The story picks up fifteen years from the original story, where the titular siblings have become famous for slaying witches and assorted monsters. In the movie, they arrive in a small German town and uncover a coven's plan to sacrifice twelve children, led by grand witch Muriel (Famke Janssen).
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters plays like a cross between a Tim Burton film and 2004's Van Helsing. There's also a sprinkle of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies thrown in, and the movie is having a great time with its action sequences and creature designs. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters cast Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the brother and sister duo, while Tommy Wirkola wrote and directed the movie. Perhaps the most bizarre credits go to Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, who served as co-producers.
Gemma Arterton's Gretel is a standout among the cast, but she wasn't first in line. When the movie was first announced, it was Jeremy Renner and Noomi Rapace who were set to play the title roles in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. At the time, Renner was coming off the acclaim of The Hurt Locker while Noomi Rapace received praise for her work as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With Dragon Tattoo. While it was never revealed why Rapace dropped out of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters to be replaced by Gemma Artheron, the answer seems to be her lead role in Prometheus.
Various actors like Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman were linked to Prometheus' lead character Elizabeth Shaw, but Noomi Rapace was ultimately cast. The Ridley Scott-directed Alien prequel eventually started filming in March 2011 - which is the same month that Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters began shooting too. Since both are effects-heavy blockbusters with long filming schedules, it's almost certain the dates couldn't be worked out between the productions, leading to Gemma Arterton replacing Noomi Rapace in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
Performers like Eva Green were also considered for Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, but Arterton was confirmed in January 2011. While The Secrets We Keep's Noomi Rapace dropped out of the fantasy action-adventure, it appears there was no ill-will from director Wirkola about her exit. The duo later collaborated on the Netflix sci-fi movie What Happened To Monday? and then 2021's The Trip. While Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was a financial success and a sequel and TV series spinoff have since been teased, a follow-up has yet to arrive.