Why Julia Roberts turned down the sequel to Notting Hill

Find Anna Scott and William Thacket divorced? “Julia found this idea very lame,” reveals Richard Curtis.

The screenwriter of Four weddings and a funeral Or Love at first sight in Notting Hilland director of Love Actually, will return on December 4 with his new film, animated this time, on Netflix: That Christmas. In full promotion of this unexpected project on his part, Richard Curtis was asked about his desire to give a sequel to one of his cult films, whether he directed it or was behind its screenplay.

“I tried to make a short sequel to Notting Hill, he responds to IndieWire. I had made these small aftereffects of Love Actually and of Four marriages… for a good cause, and I found it very satisfying, but now, I don't think it will happen. We tried to spin one around this other rom-com, which would have been about their divorce, but Julia (Roberts) found this idea very rubbish.”

Without taking into account that Hugh Grantcurrently showing in Heretic and he also star of Notting Hillrecently admitted that he didn't really like his character in this film. “Will has no c***”he regretted.

In 1999, Julia Roberts presented Love at First Sight in Notting Hill in Première

Giving a sequel to this cult romantic comedy from 1999 today would also require doing it without its director, Roger Mitchell, nor Emma Chambers, the interpreter of Will's little sister, both of whom died prematurely. Deep down, even Curtis admits to not really wanting to embark on this adventure:

“Strangely, I think I'm reaching a stage in my career where I especially want to do new things. That's why I just got into animation. I think I worked out of 17 films in total? It's quite difficult to be original on the 18th…”

The king of rom-coms prefers to go where you least expect him. By directing a music video for Ed Sheeran, for example? “'Under the Tree'this is my version of 500 days together, he comments, amused. It's my favorite romantic film of the century. The song is in That ChristmasBesides.”

He also laughs by imagining himself at the helm of a James Bond, a British franchise par excellence and very far from the films he usually shoots.

“I know you won't ask me this, but I have this running joke with Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday, Jason Bourne) : as soon as he finishes a film, I tell him: 'You want me to drop my next rom-com to work on 007?' There would be a little more exchange of kisses, and scenes for the whole family. Maybe with me, Bond could find true love? But I don't think I'm being called for that. (laughs)”

Here is the trailer for That Christmasto watch from December 4 on Netflix:

Love at first sight in Notting Hill: the comedy that makes you happy [critique]