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Garry Marshall’s romantic comedyPretty Womanhas remained a fan favorite even after its release more than 30 years ago. The success of the movie is frequently attributed to the on-screen chemistry between the attractive Julia Roberts and the charming Richard Gere. But many people are unaware that the Academy Award-winning actress had to go to great lengths to persuade herRunaway Brideco-star to accept the role inPretty Woman.
Well, can you picture someone else in J. F. Lawton’s scripted movie instead of Gere and Roberts? Despite being relatively unknown at the time, theAmerican Gigoloactor was still chosen for the role of Edward Lewis; in fact, Gere needed some persuasion to accept the part.
Also Read:“That scared the f–k out of me”: Barack Obama Helped Julia Roberts’ Upcoming Netflix Film Director With Notes That Originally Starred Denzel Washington
How Julia Roberts Got Richard Gere To Star With Her InPretty Woman?
Richard Gereinitially turned down the role before ultimately agreeing to deliver a legendary performance in the 1990 romantic comedyPretty Woman.What, then, caused theChicagoactor to reconsider?During the film’s 25th-anniversary celebration onThe Today Showin 2015, he claimed thatJulia Robertsslipped him the following note while he was on the phone with Garry Marshall one night:
“She turns [the note] around, and she pushes it to me. It said, ‘Please say yes.’ It was so sweet. And I was like ‘miming talking on the phone], I just said yes.’”
Roberts then related a similar story about how she wished Gere would take the role inPretty Woman.Sherecalled visiting theArbitrageactor’s apartment with Garry Marshall, where the director had instructed the actors to discuss the role privately.
She confessed to pleading with Gere (viaSiriusXM):
“You have to do this movie. If you don’t do this movie, it falls apart and I lose this job. It’d just be terrible!”
Later, in 1999, the two collaborated to appear inRunaway Bride.
Also Read:“I wanted to kiss Denzel. It was his idea”: Denzel Washington Refused Interracial Scene With Julia Roberts in $195M Movie after Being Booed for Kissing Tom Cruise’s Ex-Wife
What Else You Need To Know About Garry Marshall’sPretty Woman
Garry Marshall was initially hesitant to cast Julia Roberts because she lacked experience when he started casting for the role of Vivian Ward inPretty Woman.When she finally got a screen test, the director toldShe Knowsin 2009,“She popped off the screen”and then he realized she was ideal for the movie.
A fun fact aboutPretty Womanis that it was originally intended to be a much darker art movie with a less-than-happy ending. Patricia Arquette and Julia Roberts talked about how they prepared for their roles in the original script,3,000,in a joint interview withVariety.
Arquette, who made her feature film debut inA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, recalled (viaVariety):
“Most people don’t know that ‘3,000’ was the original Pretty Woman script. And the ending was really heavy.”
Roberts went on to explain that in the original ending, the male protagonist,
“Threw her out of the car, threw the money on top of her, as memory serves, and just drove away, leaving her in some dirty alley.”
Fortunately, the script was acquired by Disney, and a much lighter tone was pursued.
It is difficult to imagine that the two actors did not collaborate once again, but nearly ten years afterPretty Woman,Richard Gere discovered the ideal script for Roberts. TheFirst Knightactor confessed toCharlie Rosethat he thought of his former co-star as soon as he read the script ofRunaway Bride.
“It was submitted to me and it made me laugh — read straight through, which is rare. It did make me laugh out loud and [thought], this is Julia.”
He remembered saying to Roberts:
“I don’t even know if I want this part but it’s perfect for you.”
Gere ultimately persuaded Roberts to join him inRunaway Bride, and the two succeeded in hiring Garry Marshall to helm it. The former shared withE! News:
“I don’t know if I would have done it without Garry. My own safety level and security level with him is so high, along with Julia. That was the way to do it.”
Next up for Julia Roberts is the upcoming psychological thrillerThe Leave the World Behind,which Sam Esmail wrote, directed, and produced.Meanwhile, Richard Gere will next be seen inLonging,a comedy-drama written and directed by Savi Gabizon.
StreamPretty Womanon DIRECTV.
Also Read:“There was something icky about it”: Not Just Jennifer Connelly, Julia Roberts Owes Her Breakout Performance to Molly Ringwald for Turning Down $463M Movie for Being Too Dark
Source-The Today Show;SiriusXM;She Knows;Variety;E! News;Charlie Rose
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
