Notting Hill—the rom-com that made us all dream of stumbling into our local bookstore and finding a movie star casually browsing the “tragic biographies” section. It’s a ’90s gem, like frosted tips and the Macarena, only infinitely more rewatchable. But if you’ve been holding your breath for a sequel, you might want to exhale before you pass out, because Julia Roberts herself kiboshed the whole thing.
Writer Richard Curtis recently spilled the beans about why we’ll never get a Notting Hill 2: Electric Boogaloo. Brace yourselves, because the reason is about as romantic as soggy toast.
The Divorce Plot That Julia Said “Nope” To
In an interview with IndieWire, Richard confessed he had a vision for a sequel that involved—wait for it—Julia and Hugh Grant’s characters getting divorced. Yup. The world’s most famous actress (in the movie) and the world’s most bumblingly charming bookstore owner calling it quits. Richard apparently pitched this idea, and Julia gave it a big, fat nope.
“I tried doing [a sequel] with Notting Hill where they were going to get divorced,” Richard explained. “And Julia thought that was a very poor idea.” Translation: Julia probably looked him dead in the eye and said, “Richard, why do you hate happiness?”
Let’s be real, though. Who would want to see that? We’re here for quirky meet-cutes, awkward dinner parties, and Grant’s floppy hair—not paperwork and custody battles.
Richard’s New Vibe: Eyes on the Future
Now that Julia has nixed any chance of us seeing Hugh Grant clumsily navigate divorce court, Richard says he’s focusing on creating fresh stories instead of revisiting the past. “I’m keen at this stage in my career of doing new things as much as I can,” he said, like a man who has finally accepted that some dreams should stay in the ’90s.
So, no sequel. But hey, at least we’ll always have that heartwarming final scene in the park, Hugh’s endearing stuttering, and Rhys Ifans’ unforgettable rendition of “Underwear Model Chic.” Let’s leave it there, where it belongs—in the land of rom-com perfection.
And if you’re still hoping for a Notting Hill 2, well, maybe just write your own fanfic. Pro tip: don’t start with divorce. Julia won’t like it.
