The Untold Secrets of 'Red, White and Royal Blue': Unveiling the Unseen Side of Alex and Henry's Epic Story!

Matthew López, the director of Red, White and Royal Blue, initially faced the challenge of a three-hour long first cut of the movie. However, as he exclusively revealed to We, condensing it to under two hours turned out to be surprisingly manageable.

“I have a completely different job compared to Casey McQuiston, the author of the novel,” López, who collaborated with Ted Malawer on the script, told Us. "This is not a criticism of Casey, whom I admire and who played an essential role in the creation of this movie. When making a film, there are limitations in terms of budget, time, and space, with time being the most pressing constraint. What I've been telling people is, 'Imagine the length of the audiobook and subtract two hours, that's what didn't make it into the movie.'"

While the Red, White and Royal Blue audiobook has a duration of 12 hours and 15 minutes, the Amazon Studios movie only runs for a mere 1 hour and 58 minutes.

"Why I say it wasn't difficult [to edit] is because I soon realized that in putting this movie together, unlike the book, the focus had to be on Alex and Henry," revealed the filmmaker. "Throughout the entire process, every decision I made as the director had to revolve around whether it was right for Alex and Henry individually and as a couple."

Based on the bestselling novel of 2021, Red, White and Royal Blue tells the story of Alex Claremont-Diaz (portrayed by Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the first female President of the United States (played by Uma Thurman), and Prince Henry (played by Nicholas Galitzine) of the British royal family. After their negative publicity makes headlines, they find themselves having to pretend to be friends for the sake of their public image. However, as they discover their shared interests and values, they start falling in love.

"I initially watched the movie in its three-hour version, as provided by my editor, where I made the decision to eliminate everything that didn't revolve around Alex and Henry," López shared with Us. "I felt like it was diverting my focus from what truly mattered to me, which is the relationship between Alex and Henry in the film. Hence, as the filmmaker, my responsibility was to ensure the safe and uninterrupted journey of Alex and Henry until the end. Even within less than 20 seconds of the movie, one of them is guaranteed to make an appearance."

From left on the set of 'Red, White and Royal Blue': Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, and Matthew López. Prime Video

Concluding, the Tony Award winner emphasized, "By prioritizing the journey of these two characters, it becomes definitively evident what elements are essential and what are not."

While viewers will rejoice at witnessing the pivotal moments between Alex and Henry on the silver screen, López hinted that there is an additional delight awaiting those who stay till the end of the credits.

"I didn't include that particular moment because it would slightly dampen the momentum," remarked the director about the scene. "Nevertheless, it was incredibly charming—a perfect, endearing moment shared between Taylor and Nick. Hence, I decided to place it at the conclusion, not only so that people could see it but also because there is something mischievous about a post-credits scene that questions whether anyone even noticed its existence."

He remarked, "I consider it to be comparable to a small indulgence of chocolate after a satisfying meal. It is not necessary for full satisfaction, but it undeniably enhances the experience if you manage to have it."

The release date for Red, White and Royal Blue on Prime Video is set for Friday, August 11.