"It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
#1
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"It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Star Partners and Hummingbird Prods. are collaborating on production of a sequel to Frank Capra’s iconic 1946 movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which starred Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
The sequel, titled “It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story,” is being produced by Allen J. Schwalb of Star Partners and Bob Farnsworth of Hummingbird. The duo are aiming to get the movie into theaters for the 2015 holiday season.
Karolyn Grimes, who played George Bailey’s daughter “Zuzu” in the original, will return for the “Wonderful Life” sequel as an angel who shows Bailey’s unlikeable grandson (also named George Bailey) how much better off the world would have been had he never been born.
Grimes, of course, bellowed the iconic line, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” in the original movie, about a troubled family man (Stewart) whose near-suicide on Christmas Eve brings on the intervention of his guardian angel.
Farnsworth and Martha Bolton have written the screenplay.
“The storyline of the new film retains the spirit of the original – every life is important as long as you have friends,” Farnsworth said.
No casting decision for the lead role of Bailey’s grandson will be made until February but producers have also begun discussions with original cast members Jimmy Hawkins, who portrayed Tommy Bailey, and Carol Coombs,who played Janie Bailey, to reprise their roles as well.
The producers are interviewing potential directors and plan to shoot the majority of the film in Louisiana. The sequel will have a budget in the $25 million to $35 million range.
“The new film will retain the feeling of the original, and it simply must be shared,” Grimes said. “I’ve probably read close to 20 scripts over the years suggesting a sequel to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ but none of them were any good. The script by Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton was wonderful, and I wanted to be involved with his version of the film immediately.”
Star Partners is the managing member of the slate portfolio Star Partners 8 LLC, a $100 million offering. The fund dates back to the 1980s and was involved the financing of “The Right Stuff,” “The Killing Fields,” “The Color Purple,” “The Mission,” “Moonstruck,” and “Rain Man.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life” was nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture but lost out to “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
The sequel, titled “It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story,” is being produced by Allen J. Schwalb of Star Partners and Bob Farnsworth of Hummingbird. The duo are aiming to get the movie into theaters for the 2015 holiday season.
Karolyn Grimes, who played George Bailey’s daughter “Zuzu” in the original, will return for the “Wonderful Life” sequel as an angel who shows Bailey’s unlikeable grandson (also named George Bailey) how much better off the world would have been had he never been born.
Grimes, of course, bellowed the iconic line, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” in the original movie, about a troubled family man (Stewart) whose near-suicide on Christmas Eve brings on the intervention of his guardian angel.
Farnsworth and Martha Bolton have written the screenplay.
“The storyline of the new film retains the spirit of the original – every life is important as long as you have friends,” Farnsworth said.
No casting decision for the lead role of Bailey’s grandson will be made until February but producers have also begun discussions with original cast members Jimmy Hawkins, who portrayed Tommy Bailey, and Carol Coombs,who played Janie Bailey, to reprise their roles as well.
The producers are interviewing potential directors and plan to shoot the majority of the film in Louisiana. The sequel will have a budget in the $25 million to $35 million range.
“The new film will retain the feeling of the original, and it simply must be shared,” Grimes said. “I’ve probably read close to 20 scripts over the years suggesting a sequel to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ but none of them were any good. The script by Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton was wonderful, and I wanted to be involved with his version of the film immediately.”
Star Partners is the managing member of the slate portfolio Star Partners 8 LLC, a $100 million offering. The fund dates back to the 1980s and was involved the financing of “The Right Stuff,” “The Killing Fields,” “The Color Purple,” “The Mission,” “Moonstruck,” and “Rain Man.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life” was nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture but lost out to “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
“The storyline of the new film retains the spirit of the original – every life is important as long as you have friends,” Farnsworth said.
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Hopefully, they can follow up from the original ending:
<iframe src="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/media/embed/81249131" width="567" height="345" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/media/embed/81249131" width="567" height="345" frameborder="0"></iframe>
#10
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
It's A Wonderful Life 2: Junior's Island Vacation
#14
Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
I think you guys missed the key point of this remake. See the bolded part above from the original post. This is a complete reversal of the original film. Now it's starting to sound interesting.
#15
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Hope it's in black & white, but also 3D
#18
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Besides, isn't a complete reversal essentially A Christmas Carol?
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
It's a wonderful life? It was until I read this news.
#21
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Married... With Children already did this with a role reversal and it is a classic. Sam Kinison shows Al what life would be like if he never existed and it is great.
#22
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
this doesn't make sense. is the resolution going to be that he kills himself to make the world a better place?
#23
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
#24
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Re: "It's A Wonderful Life" sequel in the works
Plus about a hundred shows before Married...with Children and a hundred after did it as well. Married...with Children though, that's the one we all remember.