It’s hard to imagine Pretty Woman without the iconic duo of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. However, as it turns out, the cast of the beloved melodrama could have been very different. In fact, Gere was not initially thrilled with the script and refused to play the role of Edward Lewis. He thought the character was empty and uninteresting.
Despite the producer’s attempts to persuade him with fabulous fees and a plot change, Gere remained stubborn. That is, until the charming Julia Roberts came along. After talking all evening with Roberts, Gere began to have second thoughts. However, it wasn’t until he found a note that Julia had slipped into his pocket, that he finally agreed to take the role.
The note was short but powerful, containing only three words: “Say yes, please.” Roberts’ clever move won Gere over, and the rest is history. The film became a box-office hit and received numerous nominations for various awards, from the Oscars to the Golden Globes. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the roles of Vivian and Edward, but it’s interesting to think about how the film could have turned out with a different cast.
