Curtis admitted he had envisioned a reunion plot where the iconic couple, played by Roberts and Hugh Grant, were on the brink of divorce. "Julia thought that was a very poor idea," he said, explaining why the sequel never progressed. Curtis has previously revisited his stories in short form, notably orchestrating a Love Actually mini-sequel for Red Nose Day in 2017.
Notting Hill followed the love story between Roberts’ Anna Scott, a Hollywood superstar, and Grant’s William Thacker, a modest London bookstore owner. Reflecting on his character, Grant, 64, recently criticized William, calling him “despicable” in a Vanity Fair interview. He pointed to a pivotal scene where William passively opens the door to paparazzi, letting Anna fend for herself. “I’ve never had a girlfriend or wife who hasn’t asked, ‘Why didn’t you stop her?’” Grant joked, adding, “I don’t really have an answer. It’s just how it was written.”
Curtis, known for hits like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones’s Diary, was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 15th Governors Awards this month. During the ceremony, Grant paid tribute to Curtis with humor, recalling some of the quirky direction he received during filming. “Forever etched on my heart are his notes, including, ‘And now do a funny one,’ and ‘Don’t worry, we can cut around you,’” Grant quipped.
Despite the lack of a Notting Hill sequel, Curtis and Grant’s anecdotes highlight the lasting charm—and occasional flaws—of the film that captured hearts worldwide.
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