Why Superman Star Christopher Reeve Refused To Audition For Hit 90s Rom Com

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Christopher Reeve, famous for playing Superman in the 1970s and 80s, was almost cast in another well-known movie. He was considered for the role Richard Gere eventually played alongside Julia Roberts in the 1990 film, Pretty Woman.

Garry Marshall’s Pretty Woman tells the story of a surprising romance between Vivian Ward, played by Julia Roberts, and businessman Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere. Released before films like Anora, it was a contemporary take on the Pygmalion story and quickly became a beloved romantic comedy.

I was reading Christopher Reeve’s autobiography, Still Me, and I couldn’t believe what happened during his Pretty Woman audition! Apparently, he actually walked out. He described how the casting director barely looked at him, reading the lines terribly – he said she was worse than someone from amateur theater. He got so frustrated and angry during the second scene that he ripped up the pages, told the director and producers they were being disrespectful, and just stormed out! It’s pretty shocking to hear about, especially considering how famous the movie became.

Before Richard Gere was cast as Edward, the producers also thought about Al Pacino, Sam Neill, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, and Burt Reynolds. Gere first turned down the role, but changed his mind after talking with Julia Roberts about the movie.

Richard Gere eventually landed the role, and the connection he shared with Julia Roberts is a major reason the movie remains so beloved. Gere has hinted at being open to a sequel, saying it would depend on having a strong script. Roberts, however, envisions a different ending for Vivian and Edward. She imagines Edward passing away peacefully in his sleep, content and smiling, and Vivian taking over his company.

According to former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, the first version of the film had a much bleaker ending. He revealed that the original script depicted the main character dying from a drug overdose. Disney executives struggled with this dark conclusion, so it was revised, ultimately leading to the film’s successful outcome. The revised version became a major hit for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, earning $463 million around the world.

While it would have been fun to see Christopher Reeve play the lead in Pretty Woman, the film was a huge success with Richard Gere. And Reeve still left a lasting mark on cinema, even without being in that romantic comedy.

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2025-12-27 19:17