This Is The Reason We Don’t Have A ‘Notting Hill’ Sequel

1999 Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant Star In The Premiere Of “Notting Hill.” (Photo By Getty Images)

In the rom-com universe, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant’s Notting Hill remains an enduring favourite for its cherished love story of an unlikely connection and some iconic quotes we still flog fifteen years after its release. An undeniable hit (it was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, pulling in a cool $558 million AUD Approx. at the box office), it’s always eluded fans why another film was never made. What happened after William (Grant) and Anna (Roberts) skipped off into the sunset? Well, it seems we have our answer now, and it comes down to the film’s leading lady, Julia Roberts.

According to Richard Curtis, the mastermind behind the film’s screenplay, the sequel he dreamt up would have explored a darker reality post-sunset skips, one where William and Anna were navigating the turmoil of divorce. Unsurprisingly, the acerbic Grant seemed intrigued by this concept, eager to riff off the “happily ever after” trope, Curtis explained to IndieWire. Roberts, who famously wore her own clothes during filming, was less enthused and dubbed the proposed plot “a very poor idea.”

Honestly, we can’t blame her for wanting to preserve the charming, albeit a touch unrealistic, romance of the original film. Revisiting the couple under bleaker circumstances might not have gone down so well with the diehard fans, and as we’ve come to learn the hard way, sequels of classic films often miss the mark.

1999 Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant Star In The Premiere Of “Notting Hill.” (Photo By Getty Images)

If you’re not across your romcom trivia, Notting Hill follows William Thacker (Grant), a local bookstore owner, who meets and connects with Hollywood actress Anna Scott (Roberts) after she stumbles into his shop. Though their chemistry is undeniable, their different worlds and the pandemonium of her fame threaten to get in the way of romance. It’s a classic tale of improbable connections and star-crossed lovers, filled with grand gestures that land only on-screen and cheesy declarations that we fall for every time.

Set against the quaint backdrop of London’s Portobello Road, the Roger Michell-directed film lives on as the quintessential 90s love story. But if you were holding out for a follow-up to their happily ever after, we wouldn’t hold our breath. Although, we’d like to believe that things worked out between the two, so perhaps it’s for the best.