Julia Roberts Reveals the Only Sequel She’d Consider
Julia Roberts has famously avoided sequels, but there’s one exception: she’s open to revisiting Pretty Woman, the romantic comedy that made her a household name.
Sequels have a bit of a reputation for missing the mark, don’t they? From the likes of Jaws to Mean Girls, plenty of classics have copped follow-ups that just didn’t stack up. Even films you’d reckon were untouchable, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, have ended up with sequels that left punters scratching their heads. Still, it’s not all bad news—without sequels, we wouldn’t have gems like The Godfather Part II or Aliens. But let’s be honest, a fair few are just cash grabs, banking on the fact that if you liked the first one, you’ll probably fork out for another go-round. It’s a business move that keeps the industry ticking, even if it doesn’t always do much for creativity.
Roberts’ Reluctance to Revisit Old Roles
Some actors are pretty firm about not jumping back into old roles just for the sake of it, and Julia Roberts is one of them. She’s knocked back offers to do sequels for several of her films, sticking to her guns about not wanting to mess with what worked the first time. A prime example is when she was approached about a follow-up to Notting Hill. The idea, cooked up by Richard Curtis, was to show her character Anna and Hugh Grant’s William going through a rough divorce. Curtis admitted,
“I tried doing one with Notting Hill, where they were going to get divorced,”
but Roberts apparently
“thought that was a very poor idea.”
Can’t blame her, really—no one wants to see a beloved rom-com turn into a break-up drama.
The Exception: Pretty Woman
There is, however, one film Roberts would be open to revisiting. Pretty Woman was the flick that shot her to stardom, with her playing a street-smart escort opposite Richard Gere’s businessman. Their unlikely romance has stayed a favourite with audiences for years, and it’s still one of her most iconic roles. The film not only scored her an Oscar nomination but also smashed box office records, becoming the most successful romantic comedy ever. Sure, it’s copped criticism for leaning into the ‘hooker with a heart of gold’ trope, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a crowd-pleaser.
Roberts herself has said she’d consider a sequel to this one and only this one. As she put it,
“I’ve learned to never say never. I’m not a sequel kind of girl. But if I ever did make a sequel, it would be to Pretty Woman, and that’s it,”
she told The Oklahoman. Whether or not it’ll ever happen is anyone’s guess, but it’s the only project she’s left the door open for.