Screenwriter and director Richard Curtis revealed that he had planned a sequel to the romantic comedy "Notting Hill" in which the main characters would divorce, but that actress Julia Roberts did not like the idea.
Speaking to IndieWire to promote the upcoming animated film "That Christmas", Curtis, who is known for his short sequels to the films "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Love Actually" filmed for the humanitarian organization Comic Relief, said that he had a similar idea for mini-sequel to "Notting Hill".
In the original 1999 film, Roberts plays the world-famous actress, while Hugh Grant portrays the lovable bookstore owner with whom she falls in love. The ending of the film shows the couple getting married and expecting a child.
"I tried to do a sequel to 'Notting Hill,' where the main characters were supposed to get divorced," Curtis said.
However, the project was stopped by Roberts, who, according to him, thought it was a "very bad idea".
Grant suggested a similar idea in 2020 when answering questions about the HBO series "The Undoing" he was promoting at the time.
"I would like to make a sequel to one of my romantic comedies to show what happens after the end of those films. Basically, to prove how big a lie that happy ending is," he said.
Grant specifically cited "Notting Hill" as an example.
"I would love to make a movie with Julia and show the horrible divorce that would follow, with very expensive lawyers, children caught in a custody battle, streams of tears. Permanently psychologically damaged. I would love to make that movie," the actor added at the time.
Grant, who is currently promoting the horror film "Heretic" and preparing to return as the villainous Daniel Cleaver in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," recently told Vanity Fair that he found his character in "Notting Hill" disgusting .
"When I'm flipping through the channels at home after a few drinks and this movie comes on, I'm like, 'Why does my character have no backbone at all?'" Grant said.
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