Do you believe in fate? Serendipity posed that very question when it first hit theaters in 2001. This whimsical rom-com, set against the magical backdrop of New York City, captured the hearts of audiences worldwide and remains a classic to this day. From behind-the-scenes mishaps to near casting surprises, here are 36 fascinating facts about Serendipity that you may not know.
#1. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale Only Met Once Before Filming Began
The actors met briefly during auditions, but that was enough to confirm their chemistry. As John explained to the BBC: “Sometimes you meet people and feel like you’ve known them for ages. That’s what actors have to do. It’s like an affair without the mess!”
#2. They Filmed Together for Just a Few Days
Surprisingly, Jonathan and Sara rarely share screen time in the movie. Their limited scenes together meant that Cusack and Beckinsale had little overlap during production.
#3. Kate Beckinsale Auditioned with an American Accent
Initially, Sara was written as American. “I auditioned in American,” Kate told The Telegraph. “But the director asked me to try it in an English accent. I was terribly offended! Yet it ended up being a hoot.”
#4. Kate Beckinsale Was Pregnant During Casting
Kate was three days overdue with her daughter during the audition process. “I had these giant boobs and blonde hair, and then suddenly I didn’t anymore. I think that’s what [director] Peter Chelsom liked,” she joked to The Telegraph.
#5. Jennifer Aniston Almost Played Sara
Before Beckinsale got the part, Jennifer Aniston was a frontrunner. “She said, ‘I do a romantic comedy once a week,’ referring to Friends,” the director revealed to Insider.
#6. Carla Gugino Was Another Contender for Sara
Carla Gugino came close to nabbing the role, and the director later cast her in his 2017 film The Space Between Us.
#7. The Film Was Shot During the Summer Heat
To create winter scenes in August, fake snow and layered costumes were used, often leaving actors overheated. “Making it look cold in Central Park during the hottest part of August was a challenge,” producer Simon Fields said.
#8. The Ice Rink Scene Was a Struggle for Both Stars
The rink wasn’t real ice, which made skating tricky. Kate shared with cinema.com: “I was confident at first, but it was completely different from real ice.”
#9. Mosquito Sprays Delayed Production
Filming in Central Park meant dealing with pest control interruptions. “There was mosquito spraying that forced us to shut down a few times,” producer Peter Abrams shared.
#10. The Elevator Scene Wasn’t Filmed in New York
Although set at the Waldorf Astoria, the elevator scene was shot at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
#11. Kate Beckinsale Recreated the Elevator Scene in 2019
While staying at the Royal York years later, Kate reenacted the scene with a hotel staff member. “John Cusack should watch out!” she joked on The Tonight Show.
#12. The Movie Was Re-edited After 9/11
Originally featuring the Twin Towers, the skyline shots were removed after the attacks. Cusack explained, “I don’t think audiences wanted to see those images anymore. They needed something lighter.”
#13. Cusack Hesitated to Promote the Film in NYC After 9/11
Initially unsure about promoting the film, Cusack was encouraged by New Yorkers to help bring back the city’s magic.
#14. Kate Beckinsale Wanted to Delay the Film’s Release
She told Vulture: “It was a weird time to release a film. Everyone was terrified to go to the theater. I wish they had waited.”
#15. Serendipity 3 Renamed the Table Used in the Film
The iconic restaurant renamed the table where Jonathan and Sara sat as the “Star Table,” making it a popular tourist attraction.
#16. Eugene Levy Had a Rocky Start
The director revealed that Levy initially overplayed his character. “I told him to relax and trust the laughs would come,” Peter Chelsom shared.
#17. Levy’s Famous “Chase Me” Line Was Almost Cut
Cusack and Levy were skeptical about the line, but a crew screening confirmed it was a hit.
#18. Filming Notices Featured a Sarcastic Disclaimer
Production notices in NYC read: “Yes, we are filming a movie. It stars John Cusack and some girl from Britain that you wouldn’t know—even if we told you her name.”
#19. John Cusack and Jeremy Piven Were Childhood Friends
The duo grew up together, attending a theater school run by Piven’s parents.
#20. An Inside Joke Made It Into the Film
Cusack calls Piven’s character “Gerald” at one point, a nickname from their real-life friendship.
#21. Beckinsale and Cusack Haven’t Seen Each Other Since
“I think he sort of hides in Malibu,” Kate told Vulture.
#22. Beckinsale Remained Close with Molly Shannon
The pair often reunite for karaoke nights and birthdays. “She’s one of my favorite people,” Kate gushed to Vulture.
#23. Test Audiences Shortened the Timeline
Originally set over 12-15 years, the timeline was adjusted after viewers felt the actors didn’t look young enough in early scenes.
#24. A Continuity Error Slipped into the Receipt Scene
The Bloomingdale’s receipt shows a date inconsistent with the story’s timeline.
#25. NYC Details Were Romanticized
Elements like a starry Manhattan sky and fictional clock towers added a magical, fairytale-like quality.
#26. Jonathan Didn’t Know Where His Friend Worked
He tells the cab driver to head to the New York Times building on 42nd Street, but at the time, the paper was on 43rd Street.
#27. The Film Is Surprisingly Popular with Men
“Most people who say this is their favorite movie are men,” Beckinsale shared with Bustle.
#28. Cusack Knows His Constellations
Jonathan’s knowledge of Cassiopeia mirrors Cusack’s earlier character in The Sure Thing.
#29. Shannon and Piven Share a Line, Not a Scene
Both characters separately utter, “They should make pills for this!”
#30. Beckinsale and Shannon Performed Their Own Stunts
Both actresses opted to forgo stunt doubles during the film’s comedic moments.
#31. Beckinsale Isn’t as Romantic as Sara
Of the hotel floor scene, she quipped, “What a load of s**t. Terrible idea!”
#32. Sara Misdefined “Serendipity”
While Sara calls it “a fortunate accident,” Merriam-Webster defines it as “finding agreeable things not sought for.”
#33. The Film Avoided Rom-Com Clichés
There’s no big fight or apology scene. The director wanted to break from traditional romantic comedy tropes.
#34. A Deleted Scene Showed Jonathan and Sara Kissing Early
The decision to cut it preserved the tension of their final reunion.
#35. Beckinsale and Cusack Nearly Reunited for Another Film
They came close to co-starring again, though plans fell through.
#36. NBC Almost Made a Serendipity TV Series
In 2019, NBC announced a series based on the film, but it never materialized.
