Pink Panther director Shawn Levy hails Beyonce's 'genius'

Shawn Levy was wowed by Beyonce's talents when they worked together.

The 57-year-old filmmaker directed Beyonce, 44, in The Pink Panther, his 2006 comedy-mystery film, and Shawn has confessed to being amazed by the chart-topping star, who previously worked with him on The Famous Jett Jackson, the coming-of-age TV show that aired on the Disney Channel.

Speaking to People, Shawn shared: "I hired Beyoncé to be in an episode of my Disney Channel show. It was such a smooth and fun shoot together that it made it that much easier to get the ‘Yes’ when Pink Panther came along a few years later.

"I went back to her, and I was able to say, ‘It's me, the guy who used to be doing Disney Channel episodes, now I'm directing Steve Martin and The Pink Panther. Want to come join Kevin Kline and several other awesome actors to be a part of this fun?' It was a quick ‘Yes.'"

Beyonce played an international pop star in The Pink Panther and she actually recorded two songs - Woman Like Me and Check On It - for the film's soundtrack.

Shawn recalled spending time with Beyonce in the recording studio while she made the tracks, and he was blown away by what he witnessed.

The director said: "I've rarely in my life, before or since, seen someone in the sweet spot of their genius like Beyoncé in a recording studio.

"Watching her go into the recording booth to lay down a take, bounce back into the listening booth to listen to it, realise exactly in an instant what was needed differently — or in addition, going back into the recording booth, laying down another harmony track and coming back.

"The back and forth of Beyoncé in that recording session, seeing the depth of her instincts and genius in music, was jaw-dropping. I'll never forget that privilege of seeing the highest level of talent at work."

Steve Martin played Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the 2006 movie, and Shawn was thrilled by the public's reaction to the project.

The filmmaker - who has also helmed movies such as Deadpool and Wolverine, and The Internship - said: "When the movie became such a big hit, it was really gratifying.

"We knew we would take our shots critically. You don't touch a classic like that and not run that risk. The way audiences embraced the movie and Steve in this new incarnation of Clouseau was really affirming."