Julia Robertsbecame rom-com royalty in the 1990s after starring in some of the best movies of the decade, and she saved her reputation by turning down a sequel to one of her most popular rom-coms. Julia Roberts’ career began in 1987 with an uncredited role in the direct-to-video movieFirehouse. Roberts’ big break arrived the following year when she played Daisy in the rom-com dramaMystic Pizza, and the following year she played Shelby in the dramaSteel Magnolias, for which she got her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In the 1990s, Roberts explored different genres, such as sci-fi withFlatliners, thriller withSleeping with the Enemy, and fantasy withHook. However, Roberts’ strength in the 1990s was rom-coms, starring inPretty Woman,My Best Friend’s Wedding,Notting Hill, andRunaway Bride. All of these earned a spot in pop culture and rom-com history and none of them got a sequel, but one of them was close to getting a continuation – and luckily, Roberts rejected the idea, saving this now-classic movie from major disaster.
Julia Roberts Was Right - Notting Hill 2’s Divorce Plot Sounds Terrible
Notting Hill 2 Wouldn’t Have Been A Good Idea At All
In 1999, Julia Roberts starred inNotting Hill, alongside Hugh Grant. Directed by Roger Michell and written by Richard Curtis,Notting Hillfollows Will Thacker (Grant), a divorced British bookseller. One day, famous Hollywood actress Anna Scott (Roberts) visits his shop and buys a book, and they later bump into each other on the street.Will and Anna quickly bond and start spending time together, eventually falling in love. However, Anna’s fame and the paparazzi constantly meddling in her private life make their romance a bit too complicated for both.
Notting Hillhas a time jump showing that they eventually marry and have a family.
Like any other rom-com, especially those from the 1990s,Notting Hillhas a heartwarming ending. Will and Anna reconcile, andNotting Hillhas a time jump showing that they eventually marry and have a family.Notting Hillhas a definitive and satisfying ending, but it almost got an unnecessary sequel that Roberts wisely turned down. Speaking toIndieWire, Curtis revealed that there wasan idea for a sequel toNotting Hillin whichAnna and Will get divorced, but Roberts thought it was “a very poor idea”– and she was right.
Anna and Will go through a lot inNotting Hill, mostly due to Anna being a public figure, but they find what they need and are looking for in each other. Anna and Will find love, understanding, company and stability in each other, and despite their very different backgrounds and jobs, they perfectly complement each other. While it would be somewhat understandable if it happened, divorcing Anna and Will in a sequel would make no sense as they would surely eventually end up back together, and it’s much better to just let them have the happy ending they deserve.
Notting Hill 2’s Story Risked Ruining The Legacy Of The First Movie
Notting Hill Doesn’t Need A Sequel
The biggest risk thatNotting Hill 2would have faced is ruining the legacy of the first movie.Notting Hillis regarded as one of the best rom-coms, not just of the 1990s but in general, as well as one of Julia Roberts’ and Hugh Grant’s best movies.Notting Hilldoesn’t complicate itself: two main characters from different backgrounds and with very different lifestyles fall for each other and must overcome some obstacles to be together. The supporting characters inNotting Hillare also quite memorable and heartwarming, adding to the movie’s charm and making the audience root for Will and Anna even more.
Julia Roberts Nearly Rejected Her Iconic $364 Million Movie From 25 Years Ago For A Wild Reason
Julia Roberts and romantic comedies go hand-in-hand, but the star almost turned down one of her most famous rom-com roles for a mind-boggling reason.
The undeniable chemistry between Roberts and Grant is also a key part of the long-lasting charm ofNotting Hill, so it wouldn’t feel right to have their characters divorce, more so now that they have, at least, one child. Fans ofNotting Hillshould thankJulia Robertsfor wisely turning down the idea for a sequel, as thanks to her, the movie’s legacy was saved.
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a romantic comedy featuring Hugh Grant as London bookstore owner William Thacker. The film follows Thacker’s unexpected romance with actress Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts, as they navigate the challenges posed by their contrasting lifestyles.
