Iconic 'Pretty Woman' Scene Has One Detail Most People Miss

Pretty Woman was an instant classic, and it launched Roberts from a little-known actress to superstardom. The fairy tale romance hit everyone in the feelings, though it wasn't always supposed to. When Garry Marshall set out to direct the film, the plot was different, many high-profile actors turned up their noses, and the filmmakers weren't even sure how the movie would end. Somewhere along the way, all the stars aligned, but Pretty Woman could have looked very different.

1. Different Title

Pretty Woman is simple, memorable, and well, accurate. Initially, the film had a less-classic title that didn't quite capture the tone they'd achieved — 3,000, a nod to the sum that Richard Gere's Edward propositions Julia Robert's Vivian for the week.

2. Much Darker Plot

For a movie about a struggling sex worker, they really keep things upbeat. That wasn’t the original plan. Before its rom-com status, the plot delved into serious topics, like the overdose of Vivian’s roommate, and her own drug addiction.

3. Different Pretty Woman:

Fresh out of the ’80s, filmmakers had eyes for the ultimate “It” girl, box office queen — Molly Ringwald. They offered it to her, but she passed after reading the script. Still, Molly has no regrets, saying, “Julia Roberts is what makes that movie.”

4. Other Possible Contenders

Before the script landed in Julia’s hands, actresses Diane Lane, Darryl Hannah, and Michelle Pfeiffer were considered for the part of Vivian. Scheduling conflicts eliminated Diane, Darryl felt the script “degraded women,” and Michelle somewhat agreed.