Simple Mod-Rewrite rule - single rule - file exists

I have a very simple mod rewrite rule

Options FollowSymLinks 
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^hosted/essws/([^/]*)/$ /hosted/essws/?key=$1 [L]

I would like this rewrite to activate even if the file or directory exists.

For example: The URL:

http://localhost/hosted/es开发者_开发问答sws/candy-sweets-buffet/

Will load:

http://localhost/hosted/essws/index.php?key=candy-sweets-buffet

Even though the directory /hosted/essws/candy-sweets-buffet/ exists.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Options FollowSymLinks 
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^hosted/essws/([^/]*)/$ /hosted/essws/?key=$1 [L]

Look! rewriteRule doesn't care if directory exist or not! it will rewrite the URL!
your problem is simple one that too many others have it! DO NOT put / in begining of rewriterule arguments!

Options FollowSymLinks 
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^hosted/essws/([^/]*)/$ hosted/essws/?key=$1 [L]

I struggled for a while trying to do:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^catalog/([0-9]+)/?$ catalog.php?id=$1 [NC,L]

In my case, catalog.php exists as a file. By removing MultiViews, existing files are no longer a problem for rewriterules.

Options -MultiViews
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^catalog/([0-9]+)/?$ catalog.php?id=$1 [NC,L]

Done!