Robert Zemeckis Reveals Why a ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ Sequel Will “Never” Happen

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The Director’s Thoughts on a Sequel

The director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Robert Zemeckis, believes that creating a sequel to the cult classic today would be impossible.

Despite having a completed script for a sequel, Zemeckis recently shared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that the follow-up “isn’t ever going to see the light of day, as good as it is,” over 35 years after the original Disney/Amblin film was released.

He stated, “There’s a good script [for a sequel] at Disney, but here’s the thing: The current Disney would never make Roger Rabbit today. They can’t make a movie with Jessica in it.”

Concerns Over Character Representation

Zemeckis further commented on the treatment of the character Jessica Rabbit, mentioning, “I mean, look what they did to Jessica at the theme park. They trussed her up in a trench coat, you know.”

Film Overview

Who Framed Roger Rabbit features Bob Hoskins as private investigator Eddie Valiant, who is tasked with determining whether Roger Rabbit’s alluring wife, Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner), is unfaithful. After Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), the owner of Toontown and Jessica’s suspected lover, is murdered, Roger becomes the prime suspect.

Original Film’s Context

Zemeckis explained that when he made the original film in 1988, Disney was “ready to rebuild itself.” He felt that he was creating the film in the spirit of how Walt Disney would have approached it, noting that Disney’s films were aimed at adults, not just children. He aimed to convey this vision in Roger Rabbit.

Sequel Insights

With a “magnificent” script from original writers Peter S. Seamen and Jeffrey Price, Zemeckis described the sequel as “more a continuation than a sequel,” envisioning Roger and Jessica transitioning from film noir to the 1950s.

Additionally, he had plans to incorporate a digital version of Hoskins’ Eddie following the actor’s passing in 2014.

 

Person

Robert Zemeckis, Jessica Rabbit, Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, Marvin Acme, Stubby Kaye, Walt Disney, Peter S. Seamen, Jeffrey Price

Company Names

Disney, Amblin

Titles

Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Long Game

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.

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