The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film) and say 'Things just aren't happening.'". Ultimately, the directors desired to portray Quasimodo with a younger voice different from the previous portrayals since "[Victor] Hugo described Quasimodo as 20". Additionally, Hulce was permitted to do his own singing after performing a demo recording of "Out There". Desiring a huskier voice different from the leading Disney heroines, Demi Moore was cast as Esmeralda, and met with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz on singing. After several singing demos, the actress said "You'd better get someone else,'" according to Schwartz. New York City cabaret singer Heidi Mollenhauer was selected to provide the singing
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film) that Alan Crosland would direct the film. The film failed to materialize and the company seemed to have disappeared without making any releases. Irving Thalberg, who had previously worked with Chaney and Tod Browning, desired to make a production that would rise artistically above the otherwise expensive productions Universal produced. In order to convince Universal's founder, Carl Laemmle, to formally approve the production, Thalberg pitched "Hunchback" to him as "a love story". Bolstered by Chaney's recent box office successes, Laemmle agreed. "Universal Weekly", the house publication of Universal, formally announced the production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in August