Director Robert Zemeckis says he has a great script for a “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” sequel that will likely never see the light of day.
While appearing on this week’s episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, the filmmaker said today’s Walt Disney Company probably wouldn’t entertain putting the film’s leading lady, sultry cartoon Jessica Rabbit, back on screen.
“There’s a good script sitting at Disney, but here’s the thing — here’s what you have to know, and you know this: The current Disney would never make ‘Roger Rabbit’ today,” Zemeckis explained. “They can’t make a movie with Jessica in it.”
Pointing out how Disney already toned down the animated bombshell’s looks at its Disneyland resort, he said, “Look what they did to Jessica at the theme park. They trussed her up in a trench coat, you know.”
There is strong evidence to back up Zemeckis’ claim.
When Disneyland revamped its Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin ride in 2021, the park decided to hide Jessica’s signature curves under a demure detective-appropriate overcoat.
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The updated “Roger Rabbit” ride did promote the illustrated ingenue from a damsel in distress to the main character, however.
During the podcast, Zemeckis also told host Josh Horowitz how he never had any interest in tempering the 1988 original to be more kid-friendly.
“I kept saying, and I sincerely say this, and I do believe this, and I say, ‘I’m making Roger Rabbit the way I believe Walt Disney would have made it,’” he remembered telling Disney execs.
“And the reason I say that is because Walt Disney never made any of his movies for children,” the auteur added. “He always made them for adults. And that’s what I decided to do with Roger Rabbit.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Horowitz told Zemeckis he was surprised that the original cartoon noir was even able to earn a PG rating.
“We were able to make it right at the time when Disney was ready to rebuild itself,” the “Here” filmmaker explained. “We were there when a new regime came in and they were full of energy and they wanted to do” something new.
“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was both a commercial and technical triumph when it was released.
The groundbreaking production combined live-action scenes with animation, bringing a cartoon-infused version of 1940s Hollywood to life.
The film shot to the top of the box office when it debuted and has been considered a Disney classic ever since.
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English (US) ·