Few duos have left such a mark on cinema as Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Together, they starred in two of the most iconic romantic comedies of all time. However, now, decades later, the actor has delivered an unexpected message that has surprised even the industry most accustomed to drama: Hollywood.
During a public talk, in a relaxed atmosphere, Richard Gere spoke openly about his experience with Julia Roberts. What seemed like an innocent anecdote turned into a statement that has caused a whirlwind of reactions. Why have his words caused such a stir?
Richard Gere shakes Hollywood by admitting he never had chemistry with Julia Roberts
To understand the impact of his statements, one must go back to the 1990s, when Gere and Roberts won over audiences with their chemistry on the big screen. Pretty Woman was not only a commercial success, but it also became a cultural phenomenon. The story between a cold businessman and a young prostitute moved millions and marked a turning point in both of their careers.
Five years later, they reunited in Runaway Bride, repeating their success and cementing their status as a reference film couple. Since then, their joint image has been a symbol of romance, charm, and nostalgia for entire generations.
It was at the 81st edition of the Venice Festival, during a master class dedicated to his career, where Richard Gere broke the ice with an unexpected remark about Julia Roberts. He did so while one of the most iconic scenes from Pretty Woman was being shown on screen.
At that moment, the actor said with a laugh: "I mean, there's no chemistry. Obviously, there was no chemistry with Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman… I hadn't seen that in a long time. It's a very sexy scene."
The remark, full of irony, surprised the audience, who did not expect such a direct and seemingly contradictory comment. After all, Pretty Woman has been considered one of the most believable and moving love stories in cinema.
Beyond the joke, the actor fondly recalled those days of filming and admitted that they never imagined the success the film would achieve. "A very small film with a wonderful director named Garry Marshall, but we had fun making it. We didn't know if anyone would ever see it," he acknowledged.
Richard Gere talks about the failed projects with Julia Roberts
Despite that lack of chemistry, Richard Gere admitted that, after Pretty Woman, they tried to find new projects together. "Julia and I had been looking for some interesting project to work together again for a long time. We wanted it to be something really good and it dragged on so long that it ended up being a nightmare," he told Fotogramas.
The actor explained that they received numerous scripts, but there was always something that didn't work: "If one character was good, the other wasn't quite convincing." In total, they turned down as many as four projects before accepting Runaway Bride, which reflects the pressure to repeat their previous phenomenon. "I think we had too much pressure," Gere added.
This account reveals a little-known side of the duo: the difficulty of finding a story that lived up to expectations. In the end, they turned to the same director who had guided them in Pretty Woman, Garry Marshall, to shape their second collaboration.
Richard Gere has once again put his professional relationship with Julia Roberts at the center of the debate, showing that time hasn't erased the mark they left on cinema. His words, blending humor and nostalgia, have rekindled curiosity about a duo that defined an era in Hollywood.