Christopher Reeve is beloved among film fans for his iconic portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman in four films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but he almost had the chance to add another classic role to his resume. In an alternate timeline, the late Julliard alum could have taken the place of Richard Gere alongside Julia Roberts in 1990’s Pretty Woman.
Directed by Garry Marshall, the film followed the unlikely love story of escort Vivian Ward (Roberts) and businessman Edward Lewis (Gere). In a pre-Anora world, Pretty Woman was a modern Pygmalion of sorts, and it became a fan-favorite rom-com almost immediately upon release.
In his 1998 autobiography, Still Me, Reeve revealed that he actually walked out of his audition for Pretty Woman (via SlashFilm). “I had to play the scenes with the casting director, who kept her nose buried in the pages and read about as well as a reject from some community theater,” Reeve wrote. “Halfway through the second scene, anger, frustration, and humiliation got the better of me. I ripped the pages in half, dropped them on the floor, told [Marshall] and the producers that they had no right to treat any actor this way, and stalked out of the room.“
In addition to Reeve, other actors considered to play Edward prior to Gere include Al Pacino, Sam Neill, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, and Burt Reynolds. Gere initially declined the part, but her later agreed after meeting with Roberts to discuss the film.
Ultimately, Gere nabbed the part, and the chemistry between him and Roberts is a large part of the film’s enduring charm. This is not lost on Gere, who has teased the possibility of returning for a sequel. “It all comes down to whether or not there’s a good script,” the actor stated. For her part, Roberts has a different idea about how Vivian and Edward’s story ends, and it doesn’t involve a sequel. “I think he passed away peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack, smiling,” Roberts explained. “And now she runs his business.”
Interestingly, the original version of the film took a darker turn, according to former Disney studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. The former executive explained: “In the original version – it’s pretty dark – I think she died of an overdose.” Per Katzenberg, the studio had a hard time approving the script, so the ending was changed, and “the rest is history.” Though the ending was changed substantially, it proved to be a huge hit for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, banking $463 million worldwide.
Though it would have been interesting to see Reeve in the role of Edward, Pretty Woman was plenty successful with Gere in the lead. Likewise, Reeve has an impactful cinematic legacy regardless of choosing not to audition for the rom-com classic.
Pretty Woman
10/10
- Release Date
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March 23, 1990
- Runtime
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119 minutes
