John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Reunite For 40th ‘Grease’ Anniversary
Can you believe it’s been 40 years since ‘Grease’ released? John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John reunited to celebrate the anniversary.
By WKBW on August 16, 2018
Can you believe it’s been 40 years since Grease released? John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John reunited to celebrate the anniversary.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held a special screening and Q&A to honor the classic musical. Fellow cast members Didi Conn (Frenchie), and Barry Pearl (Doody) were also in attendance, along with director Randal Kleiser.
Travolta recounted how he helped cast Newton-John for the role of Sandy, reports E! News.
“If you were a young man in the ’70s, and I’m sure many of you were, out there, if you remember that album cover of Olivia with that blue shirt on, with those big blue eyes staring right at you, every boy’s – every man’s – dream was, ‘Oh, I’d love for that girl to be my girlfriend,” he said.
“So when I had the privilege to have input on the casting, I said, ‘There is no other person in the universe other than Olivia Newton-John to play Sandy. You must cast her.’ So I held tight, didn’t I? And I got my way.”
Related: John Travolta And Olivia Newton-John May Be Reuniting
Not only did the actor convince casting directors to pick Newton-John… he also convinced her to take the role!
“I really wasn’t sure I wanted to do the movie because I’d made a movie before in England, which was a musical, and it didn’t work, so I was very frightened about doing a movie,” the actress remembered. “Then they sent John to meet me and who could say no, right? This gorgeous guy walks up my driveway, these bright blue eyes, and he was so sweet and melted me and he talked about it.”
“I said, ‘But I’m 29 years old. How can I be 18?'” she continued. “I look back, I can’t believe I was thinking that. But anyway, it’s all relative. Right, girls? So he talked to me and said, ‘You know, it’s alright, none of us are gonna be 18.'”
Watch the full stream below.
GREASE (1978) 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Watch as the cast and crew of “Grease” reunite. Join director Randal Kleiser and cast members Didi Conn, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Pearl and John Travolta. Mario Lopez hosts. Video begins at minute 16.
Posted by The Academy on Wednesday, August 15, 2018