Richard Gere Spills the Tea on Why He Almost Turned Down Pretty Woman
Imagine a world where Richard Gere wasn’t Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Hard, right? But believe it or not, Gere nearly passed on the role that turned him into a rom-com legend opposite Julia Roberts. The Hollywood icon recently opened up about his initial doubts and what ultimately convinced him to say yes to one of the most iconic roles of his career.
Speaking to Scott Feinberg on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the 75-year-old reflected on his journey with the 1990 blockbuster. Though it’s a movie he’s proud of today, it was far from love at first sight.
“I’m so proud of that movie and proud of the work process that we did to create that movie,” Gere confessed. But back in the late 1980s, Gere wasn’t exactly sold on the idea.
Turns out, it all came down to the character of Edward Lewis, the suave businessman who sweeps Roberts’ Vivian Ward off her feet. “There was no character,” Gere said bluntly. “So, I read this thing, and I said, ‘It’s not for me.’” He described Edward as little more than “just a suit” in the initial script, leaving him uninspired.
But Director Garry Marshall wasn’t about to take no for an answer. The filmmaker worked his magic, telling Gere, “Let’s you and me find it.”
Julia Roberts was the turning point. While Roberts had already landed the role of Vivian, the chemistry between the two leads was far from guaranteed. Marshall convinced Gere to meet with the then-rising star, and their connection was undeniable.
During their meeting, she scribbled on a Post-It, slid it across the table to Gere, and simply wrote: “Please say yes.” Gere couldn’t resist. “How could you say no to that?” he quipped.
Gere, Roberts, and Marshall worked together to transform Edward from a bland businessman into a layered, charming character. “We ended up, you know, really trying to find a character there that made sense within the structure and, you know, the essence of what that piece was,” Gere explained. “To make it heartfelt, to make it charming, make it fun, make it sexy, you know?”
And sexy it was. The chemistry between Gere and Roberts practically leaped off the screen, and their performances turned Pretty Woman into an instant classic.
Looking back, Gere’s gratitude for the experience is evident. “We all loved each other. Great trust, we had a wonderful time, and we had no idea that it was gonna be what it was,” he said.
Gere and Roberts reunited with Marshall nearly a decade later for Runaway Bride, proving that their on-screen chemistry was no fluke. But it’s their work on Pretty Woman that continues to define their legacies.
