Notting Hill star Roberts rejected idea of divorce 'mini sequel'

The writer and director Richard Curtis has revealed that he had planned a follow-up to the romcom hit Notting Hill - in which the leading characters split up.

- Catherine Shoard

Speaking to IndieWire to promote the forthcoming animation That Christmas, Curtis - who has previously overseen short spinoffs of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually in aid of Comic Relief - said he had envisaged a similar "mini sequel" to Notting Hill.

The 1999 film starred Julia Roberts as a superstar actor and Hugh Grant as the bumbling bookshop owner with whom she falls in love. The ending shows that the pair have got married and are expecting a child.

"I tried doing one with Notting Hill where they were going to get divorced," said Curtis.