Julia Stiles Says Harvey Weinstein ‘Got His Hands’ on Her 2000 Rom-Com and ‘It Became Dumb’; She ‘Felt Slimy’ When Reshoots Made Her Film a Dance Scene

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Julia Stiles shared her experience on Brett Goldstein’s “Films to Be Buried With” podcast, recalling a sense of discomfort when she was compelled to perform a dance scene in the 2000 romantic comedy “Down to You”, following Harvey Weinstein‘s intervention in production. Stiles stated that Weinstein tarnished the movie for her.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I found myself drawn to the film “Down to You,” where I watched Stiles and Freddie Prinze Jr. bring to life the tumultuous romance of two college sweethearts. This movie was produced during the golden age of teen rom-coms, with both actors rising to fame following their roles in the blockbusters “She’s All That” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” Stiles praised Prinze as a “charming, talented actor,” and he found the script for “Down to You” to be “excellent.”

However, it was Harvey Weinstein who got his hands on the project and decided to ride the wave of this trend, transforming what could have been a thoughtful romance into something less than stellar. In his own words, Stiles described it as becoming “dumb.

During reshoots, I was informed that Harvey thought it necessary to include me dancing, following the popularity of ‘Save the Last Dance’ and ’10 Things I Hate About You,’ where I danced on a pool table. In his opinion, this scene was required for the movie. However, I found it uninspired. It was simply, “Let’s put her on a pool table and have her dance.” The idea lacked creativity. I felt uncomfortable throughout the entire process. I’m not sure if that scene made it to the final cut, but it certainly irked me. I felt it was cheap and unnecessary, as it didn’t contribute to the storyline.

The romantic comedy “Down to You” was crafted by Kris Isacsson, boasting a talented ensemble including Selma Blair, Ashton Kutcher, Rosario Dawson, Lucie Arnaz, and Henry Winkler. Notably, this film teamed up the well-known duo of Stiles and Prinze Jr., typically associated with teen rom-coms. However, despite these notable names, the movie grossed just $24 million at the box office and was generally criticized by film critics.

At present, Weinstein is undergoing a new trial for rape allegations in Manhattan, as the Court of Appeals overturned his previous conviction last year. In addition to this, he was given a 16-year sentence for a rape case in Los Angeles. However, he’s dealing with a series of health issues, such as bone marrow cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes.

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2025-03-14 03:20