Whereas showing on The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, the 75-year-old actor shared the explanation he initially turned down the now iconic rom-com reverse Julia Roberts.

“I am so happy with that film and happy with the work course of that we did to create that film,” Gere started of the 1990 movie. “And I am not solely proud, I am grateful for that film as a result of it allowed me to do plenty of different issues too.”

However he admittedly “did not perceive” the movie at first, or the character he was requested to play, Edward Lewis.

“There was no character,” he stated. “So, I learn this factor, and I stated, “It isn’t for me,” Gere defined of why he turned it down at first, including that it felt just like the character was “only a go well with.”

Gere stated he was “uncomfortable” assembly with director Garry Marshall as a result of he actually did not wish to do the film.

They did ultimately meet, nonetheless, with Marshall placing in a little bit leg work to make that film magic occur.

“We begin speaking concerning the script and I stated, ‘Look, I simply do not see a personality,’” Gere recalled.

“‘Let’s you and me discover it,’” he remembered Marshall telling him, including that the late director satisfied him to fulfill with Julia.

“I stated, She’s lovely. She’s nice.’ And whereas I am speaking to him, she takes a Submit-It off of my desk and she or he writes on it one thing. Then she strikes it throughout the desk to me and it says, ‘Please say sure.’ So how may you say no to that?” Gere recounted.

He continued, “We ended up, , actually looking for a personality there that made sense inside the construction and, , the essence of what that piece was…to make it heartfelt, to make it charming, make it enjoyable, make it horny, ? And all of us cherished one another. Nice belief, we had an exquisite time, and we had no concept that it was gonna be what it was.”

The movie, after all, ended up being an enormous hit with audiences and went on to turn into a basic within the rom-com world. Roberts even scored her second Academy Award nomination for her iconic portrayal of Vivian. The film additionally was simply the beginning of the Gere and Roberts’ working relationship,  with the pair re-teaming with Marshall for 1999’s Runaway Bride.