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Starring in movies likePretty WomanandErin Brockovich, Julia Roberts not only gained critical acclaim but also solidified her status as one of the most beloved actresses in the industry. While she has achieved great success throughout her years in Hollywood, Roberts, like many other Hollywood stars, faced a moment of uncertainty that ultimately led her to pass on a potentially career-defining role in the 1998 period romantic comedyShakespeare in Love.
Filmmaker Edward Zwick, who produced the 1998 film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, and Ben Affleck among others, recently discussed Roberts’ casting and the consequences of her departure from the project in an interview with IndieWire.
Edward Zwick Reflects on Julia Roberts’ Backing Out FromShakespeare in Love
Directed by John Madden and an ensemble cast includingGwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, and Ben Affleck, the 1998 filmShakespeare in Lovewas a huge hit, earning $289 million at the box office and winning seven Oscars at the 71st Academy Awards, including for Best Picture and Best Actress to Paltrow for her performance as Viola de Lesseps.
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However, the film was initially set to be directed by Edward Zwick and starJulia Robertsin the Oscar-winning role of Viola de Lesseps. Zwick, who later produced the film, reflected on Roberts backing out of the project in a recent interview withIndieWire. The filmmaker, who had high hopes for the collaboration, expressed disappointment in Roberts’ decision, saying,
“She was very young. There was a lot of pressure on her. She might have feared how she might have done in the role. But for whatever reason, she behaved badly—Whether there was another agenda there about other things with the star or Mike Ovitz, or God knows who, it just went away.”
He also shared that after theNotting Hillstar left the movie, Universal chairman Tom Pollock, who supported the filmmaker initially, also“chickened out” without confronting the actress. However, Zwick also highlighted the opportunities that arose from the situation. He shared that it also came with an opportunity to work on the 1994 dramatic epicLegends of the Fall, which is still considered one of the best movies of Edward Zwick.
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Why Julia Roberts Backed Out ofShakespeare in Love?
Before Gwyneth Paltrow took on the Oscar-winning role in the 1998 film, Julia Roberts was set to star in the movie. According to Edward Zwick, Universal Studios only agreed to produceShakespeare in Lovewhen the Oscar-winning actress expressed interest in the movie.
In an essay forAir Mail, the producer of the film recalled what led Roberts to back out of the movie. He shared that after casting theWonderactress, they went to do a screentest with a number of“yet-to-be-discovered young actors”for the role of William Shakespeare.
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However, Roberts was firm with castingDaniel Day-Lewisin the role, who according to Zwick committed to another film at the time,In the Name of the Father.“Did you see his performance in ‘A Room with a View?’ He’s done Shakespeare, too. Don’t you think he’d be perfect?… I can get him to do it,”he recalled Roberts’ words.
After two weeks of casting efforts, Roberts eventually agreed to test with actor Paul McGann. However, Zwick later learned from Roberts’ manager that she had flown back to the U.S. and decided to withdraw from the project. The filmmaker noted that he never had another conversation with Roberts after that.
Shakespeare in Loveis available to stream on Max.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3447
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
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Ben Affleckjoseph fiennesJulia Roberts
