Julia Roberts called the proposed Notting Hill sequel a "poor idea," claims screenplay writer Richard Curtis

Julia Roberts reportedly rejected a sequel concept for the 1999 hit rom-com Notting Hill, deeming the storyline a "poor idea," according to writer Richard Curtis. The acclaimed screenwriter recently shared in an interview that he had envisioned a follow-up where Julia Roberts's character, Anna Scott, and Hugh Grant’s William Thacker face a difficult divorce.

Speaking to IndieWire on November 27, during promotions for his upcoming Netflix animated film That Christmas, Curtis revealed that the sequel would depict the couple’s marital struggles.

"I tried doing one with Notting Hill where they were going to get divorced," Curtis explained.

However, Roberts was not on board with this concept. Taling about which he added:

"Julia thought that was a very poor idea."

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The legacy of Notting Hill and Julia Roberts’s rejection of a sequel

Richard Curtis had planned this as a short "mini-sequel" for comic relief, similar to his previous spin-offs of Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. These specials aimed to show where the characters’ lives might have led, often with a humorous or reflective twist. However, the Notting Hill project never materialized.

Hugh Grant shared a similar view about his character’s potential future. During HBO Q&A in October 2020, Grant suggested revisiting some of his past romantic comedies to explore the aftermath of their happy endings. Specifically, he proposed a grim scenario for Notting Hill,

"I’d like to do me and Julia and the hideous divorce that’s ensued with really expensive lawyers... floods of tears... Psychologically scarred forever. I’d love to do that film."

Grant, currently promoting the horror film Heretic and set to return as Daniel Cleaver in next year’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, has also been critical of his character, William Thacker.

In a Vanity Fair interview on November 14, 2024, he called Thacker "despicable" and questioned his character’s passivity, particularly in scenes involving paparazzi intrusion.

"Why doesn’t my character have any balls?" Hugh Grant commented, reflecting on the film’s iconic scenes.

Notting Hill remains a beloved classic, and Julia Roberts’s portrayal of Anna Scott, an international superstar navigating love outside the limelight, is highly rated. Since Notting Hill, Julia Roberts has appeared in films like Erin Brockovich (2000), for which she won an Academy Award, and the recent thriller series Leave the World Behind (2023).

Curtis acknowledged the challenges of creating romantic comedy sequels, noting that revisiting beloved characters often involves introducing conflict, which can undermine the original film’s tone. "I don’t think I’d do any follow-ups," he remarked, reflecting on his reluctance to revisit past works.

Richard Curtis is currently working on his first animated film, That Christmas, which is set to release on Netflix on December 4, 2024. The movie is based on a series of children's books he wrote and features a star-studded voice cast, including Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy.

The film explores themes of family, love, and loneliness, set during a chaotic Christmas season. Curtis serves as both the writer and executive producer for the project.