Pretty Woman is one of those magical films that, no matter how many times I’ve seen it, I can’t help but get hooked when it’s on TV or streaming.
But here’s something not everyone knows: there are several deleted scenes that few has seen. And what’s even more surprising? Nearly everyone who watches them ends up saying the same thing…
Pretty Woman is one of those movies that just gets better with time. And honestly, as I get older, Richard Gere’s character only seems more classic and charming —and yep, I’m saying that as a straight guy!
The movie’s fairy-tale romance and the electric chemistry between Julia Roberts as Vivian and Richard Gere as Edward keep fans hooked, no matter how many times they watch it.
A yuppie sociopath
Originally, the script for Pretty Woman was much darker, far from the light and romantic comedy that charmed the world. The original screenplay, titled 3,000, was penned by a then-struggling screenwriter, J.F. Lawton.
He was trying to break into the industry with ninja scripts and comedies but wasn’t getting attention. After a shift in focus, he wrote Red Sneakers, a serious script about a one-legged lesbian comedian, which suddenly gained interest.
This led to the creation of 3,000, a darker story about America’s financial struggles and the dangers of exposing the good life to those who haven’t experienced it.
In the gritty first version, Kit (Vivian’s wisecracking roommate) was portrayed as a hardened junkie, always on the edge of an overdose, and even Vivian was depicted as a user.
The signs of this backstory linger in the movie we know today, with Edward telling Vivian to ”quit fidgeting,” hinting at her past struggles. In the original script, Edward was a James Spader-esque yuppie sociopath, cold and detached, who never once saw Vivian as anything more than a fleeting amusement or a toy to pass the time.
By the way, did you know that Disney executives initially wanted Sean Connery and Meg Ryan for the lead roles?
Roberts refused the original script
Julia Roberts has stated that she would never take on the original 3,000 role, even today.
”I couldn’t do it then, I couldn’t do it now,” Roberts said. ”Thank god it fell apart.”
Turning Pretty Woman into a romantic comedy was a brilliant move that allowed it to resonate with a broader audience. Still, while most agree that the producers’ decision to cut the darker scenes was for the best, some fans can’t help but wish for the inclusion of specific deleted moments.
The Director’s Cut of the movie enriches the story with additional dialogue and scenes that give more context and depth to the characters’ journeys. One of these moments is an extended version of Edward and Vivian’s first meeting, adding new layers to their initial chemistry. There’s also a tense scene featuring Carlos, the intimidating pimp, chasing after Vivian to collect the money Kit owes him.
These scenes didn’t make it into the final cut, but they give a peek into Vivian’s life beyond Edward. Adding them could have made the story feel more balanced and given her character — and the movie — more depth.