Julia Roberts and Richard Gere’s Secret Decade-Long Runaway Bride Reunion
Hello, I’m Jordan Collins. I suppose you might need me to explain how Runaway Bride almost never happened, so let’s dive in before you get lost.
Runaway Bride finally reunited Julia Roberts and Richard Gere on July 30, 1999, nearly nine years after Pretty Woman made them Hollywood royalty. You probably know the story: Roberts playing Maggie, a bride who flees the altar three times, and Gere as a jaded columnist determined to witness a fourth escape. But you might not be aware this project sat dormant for over a decade with multiple A-listers on board at different points.
The first script emerged in 1992 with Geena Davis and Harrison Ford attached, only to collapse over script disputes. Fast forward to the mid nineteen nineties and names like Michael Douglas, Demi Moore, Ellen DeGeneres, and Mel Gibson all flirted with the lead roles. One source from The LA Times noted the project kept stalling until Sandra Bullock’s interest revived it in 1996. Before she could sign on, Ben Affleck and Tea Leoni entered negotiations, though Affleck bowed out and producers began courting Gere.
Richard Gere loved the screenplay but made one demand: “Get Julia, and I’m in.” That phone call with Roberts changed everything. Studio producer Tom Rosenberg told The LA Times it took just a week to lock down the reunion that insiders had chased for nine years.
Next came director Garry Marshall, who was on the verge of an Australia vacation with his wife. Producers reportedly called Mrs. Marshall directly with reassurances and promises of a lavish schedule, persuading Marshall to return to the women’s romantic comedy he’d helmed in 1990. The combination of shared history and Marshall’s relaxed set created a low-stress environment. He later joked that he only needed to shout “Action” or “Quiet” to get his shorthand going.
The reunion chemistry fueled a massive box office haul that surpassed Pretty Woman’s original earnings. Yet critical reception was lukewarm, with Rotten Tomatoes granting a 46 percent fresh rating. Julia Roberts herself admitted in later interviews that Runaway Bride couldn’t quite capture the lightning in a bottle of their first pairing, and the arrival of Notting Hill just weeks earlier certainly didn’t help comparisons.
Behind the scenes stories include a higher budget after Roberts and Gere signed on, alternate endings that were scrapped, and on-set banter revealing how Gere had shed caution and embraced comedy more fully than in 1990. Fans may cherish its iconic scenes even if critics remain skeptical.
There you have it, the decade-long tale of near misses and A-list tag teams that led to Runaway Bride. Well, now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, The LA Times, Rotten Tomatoes
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
