In 2002, Reese Witherspoon starred in Sweet Home Alabama, a romantic comedy about a woman who must return to Alabama after finding success in New York and tie up a few loose ends before marrying the man of her dreams.
Witherspoon has two love interests in the film: Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas. And while it may have taken her a while to warm up to co-stars in other projects, including Joaquin Phoenix when they worked together in Walk the Line, Witherspoon and Lucas had instant chemistry.
Reese Witherspoon received a hefty paycheck for her role in Sweet Home Alabama, and some would say that the film’s success comes down to the crazy chemistry between Witherspoon and Lucas.
But where do these two actors stand with each other today? Do they still talk? And are we ever getting a Sweet Home Alabama reunion? Keep reading to find out the details behind Reese Witherspoon’s relationship with Josh Lucas.
Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas’s Starring Roles In ‘Sweet Home Alabama’
Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas first worked together in 2002’s Sweet Home Alabama, a rom-com that has since become a favorite among Witherspoon’s fans. The film follows the story of Melanie Carmichael, a successful designer in New York City who gets engaged to the Mayor’s son.
But before she can go through with the wedding, she has to return to her native Alabama and convince her ex-husband to officially sign the divorce papers.
While Witherspoon perfectly plays the role of Melanie, Josh Lucas portrays Jake, the ex who seems like the wrong choice for Melanie but is actually secretly still in love with her.
The chemistry between Witherspoon and Lucas is one of the reasons why the film was so successful, and fans are dying to know where their relationship stands today.
Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas Were Both Professionals On Set
Josh Lucas has revealed that the connection between him and Witherspoon, and the success they had in portraying those characters, came down to both of them being professional.
“I was in a very serious relationship at that point,” Lucas explained (via Cheat Sheet).
“I was like, I know how I kiss Alexa, and I know I’m going to kiss Reese the same way because I’m going to put it out there. I don’t want there to be a bland moment. I think Reese does exactly the same thing.”
The Southern Roots They Share
Cheat Sheet also reports that both Lucas and Witherspoon come from similar Southern backgrounds. While she was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he hails from Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Because of this, both actors were better able to connect to their Southern characters in Sweet Home Alabama, and perhaps bond over their shared Southern identity.
Reese Witherspoon Felt Fortunate To Work With Josh Lucas
Reese Witherspoon hasn’t spoken publicly about her working relationship with Josh Lucas for some time, but she did reveal not long after Sweet Home Alabama came out that she felt fortunate to work with all of the cast, including Josh Lucas.
“We had a great time working together,” Witherspoon said in an early interview following the release of the film.
“I was very fortunate to have such a great cast in this movie … When you get to work with great actors too, it just makes it all that much better.”
Josh Lucas’s Praise For Reese Witherspoon
Josh Lucas has never been shy about praising Reese Witherspoon. According to Insider, he was so struck by her talent when working with her on Sweet Home Alabama that he predicted she’d be a huge star. And his predictions were correct.
“Back when I was doing Sweet Home Alabama, I, for some reason, remember telling the director or somebody, 'I bet this woman ends up running a movie studio one day,'" Lucas said (via Insider).
"And she's even beyond that at this point. I mean, she's her own version of Oprah Winfrey now, right? And it's extraordinary and not surprising either, at all."
They’re Still On Good Terms
While Lucas and Witherspoon haven’t appeared in public together in years, we have reason to believe that the former co-stars are still on good terms. In 2019, Lucas revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that he’s willing to be part of a Sweet Home Alabama reunion.
“I’m up for it. I know Reese’s said she is as well,” he said, hinting that he may have spoken to the actress directly about the possibility of a reunion. He also confirmed that director Andy Tennant is open to making a reunion and emphasized that the ball is in Witherspoon’s court.
So fans rejoice—we may be getting a reunion sooner than we think!
