Julia Roberts Reveals the Only Sequel She’d Ever Consider
Julia Roberts has famously avoided sequels throughout her career, but there’s one exception: she’s open to revisiting Pretty Woman, the film that made her a household name.
Sequels have a long history of disappointing fans, from the letdown of Jaws follow-ups to the unexpected continuation of 2001: A Space Odyssey with 2010: The Year We Make Contact. While some sequels, like The Godfather Part II or Aliens, have become classics in their own right, many are seen as little more than cash grabs. Studios know audiences will return for familiar faces and stories, so it ’s no surprise that sequels keep rolling out, even if they sometimes come at the expense of originality.
Despite the financial incentives, not every actor is eager to revisit old roles. Julia Roberts, for example, has consistently turned down offers to reprise her characters in follow-up films. She’s made it clear that she’s not interested in sequels just for the sake of making them, no matter how tempting the paycheck might be.
Roberts’ Reluctance Toward Sequels
One of the most notable examples of Roberts’ stance came when she was approached about a possible continuation of Notting Hill. The proposed idea, according to Richard Curtis, involved a short film showing her character Anna and Hugh Grant’s William going through a messy divorce. Curtis recalled,
“I tried doing one with Notting Hill, where they were going to get divorced,”
but Roberts quickly dismissed the concept, reportedly calling it
“a very poor idea.”
She’s protective of the stories she’s helped bring to life and doesn’t want to risk tarnishing their legacy with unnecessary sequels.
Roberts’ approach is rooted in a desire to preserve the magic of the original films. She’s not interested in revisiting characters if it means undoing the happy endings or emotional payoffs that made those movies special in the first place.
The Exception: Pretty Woman
There is, however, one film that Roberts has admitted she’d consider returning to: Pretty Woman. The romantic comedy, which paired her with Richard Gere, catapulted her to stardom and remains one of her most beloved roles. The story of an unlikely romance between a businessman and a Hollywood escort struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, earning Roberts an Academy Award nomination and breaking box office records for romantic comedies.
Despite some criticism for its portrayal of the “hooker with a heart of gold” trope, the film’s enduring popularity is undeniable. When asked about the possibility of a sequel, Roberts once said,
“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.”
While it’s unlikely that a follow-up will ever happen, Roberts’ openness to the idea speaks volumes about the special place the film holds in her career.