After the success of Notting Hill in 1999, fans long hoped for a continuation of William Thacker and Anna Scott’s love story. In Notting Hill 2, the story was imagined to pick up years later, showing the couple facing the realities of fame, family life, and the passage of time. Their seemingly perfect romance is now tested by personal struggles and public pressure, especially as Anna’s Hollywood career begins to fade while William’s quiet bookshop life remains unchanged.
Writer Richard Curtis once considered exploring this idea in a short sequel. His concept involved William and Anna separating—possibly even divorcing—before eventually rediscovering their love for each other. The intention was to show a more realistic view of long-term relationships and how love evolves over time. However, the idea was controversial from the start.
Julia Roberts, who portrayed Anna Scott, rejected the proposed sequel idea, calling it “a very bad idea.” Hugh Grant also weighed in, suggesting a darker, more cynical follow-up that could contrast the fairy-tale ending of the original film. While he was open to revisiting the characters, both actors ultimately felt the original film had a complete and satisfying conclusion.
As a result, Notting Hill 2 was never developed, and there are no official plans for a sequel. The characters of William and Anna remain frozen in time—forever in that final park bench scene, representing an idealized, bittersweet version of love that fans continue to cherish more than two decades later.