“That Was a Very Poor Idea.” Julia Roberts Turned Down Notting Hill Sequel Because She Didn't Like the Story
Notting Hill is a cult romantic comedy that could have seen a sequel, but Julia Roberts didn't like the idea of it so much that she rejected it.
The golden era of romantic comedies brought audiences many timeless stories that they are eager to return to even after twenty years. One of the films from that period is Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The story of a divorced bookstore owner, whose store is visited by a famous actress, moved viewers who might be interested in learning more about the fate of the movie's characters.
Unfortunately, they did not have such an opportunity, because Julia Roberts rejected the idea of making a sequel. The actress didn't like the proposed story, which made further talks pointless and the idea went into the trash. Screenwriter Richard Curtis talked about how Notting Hill 2 was rejected, during an interview for IndieWire.
I tried doing one with Notting Hill where they were going to get divorced, and Julia [Roberts] thought that was a very poor idea.
Although it would be tempting to reunite with the characters of Notting Hill, looking at the idea that the filmmakers wanted to realize, one can understand Julia Roberts' decision. The production has a cult status, forever enshrined in popular culture, being an example of a story in which true love prevails.
A sequel could change the way the original is perceived, taking away the magic for which it is viewed. Sometimes certain stories are better left as individual works, without a sequel, if a sequel is not needed and could harm the legacy of the original. Not everything has to become a series, as filmmakers often forget, opting for previously unplanned sequels to revisit proven titles.