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While it’s now well-known as a rom-com classic, When Harry Met Sally nearly wasn’t romantic at all — until director Rob Reiner fell in love in real life.
Speaking to PEOPLE for a July 2019 story, the director of the 1989 film said that, in the film’s early drafts, “we didn’t have them [end up] together.”
“They meet again in New York, have a little conversation and walk in opposite directions,” he added.
But the final scene in the film — in which Harry runs to Sally on New Year’s Eve — was written by late screenwriter Nora Ephron after Reiner himself met his future wife, Michele, while shooting the film.
After Reiner and Michele fell in love, history and movie magic were made.
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When Harry Met Sally starred Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as two recent college grads who meet when they carpool from Chicago to New York City together after graduating. The movie, considered one of the best romantic comedies ever, follows their friendship as it evolves over the years and eventually turns romantic.
Reiner elaborated on the film’s ending in a 2024 interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, saying of the original ending: “It was going to be the two of them seeing each other after years, talking and then walking away from each other.”
“Because I had been married for 10 years, I’d been single for 10 years and I couldn’t figure out how I was ever going to be with anybody,” he added “and that gave birth to When Harry Met Sally.”
But that all changed when Reiner met Michele.
“I met my wife Michele, who I’ve been married to now 35 years, I met her while we were making the film, and I changed the ending,” Reiner told Wallace.
“So we owe that tear-jerking ending to Michele?” asked Wallace, to which Reiner replied, “That’s right.”
In September, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker told PEOPLE he was not interested in revisiting the rom-com classic for a sequel, saying, “No, I never wanted to do sequels. I don’t like them.”
Reiner and Michele were killed in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Sources previously told PEOPLE they were found by their daughter Romy.
According to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department records, their son Nick was taken into custody and is being held on $4 million bail.
The couple had three children together, including Nick, who previously has spoken openly about struggles with addiction, beginning in his teens.
Reiner was the director of a number of iconic films, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me, The Princess Bride (1987), and A Few Good Men (1992), among others.
