By TeeJay Petit | Published
Fans of the hit 1988 mystery comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit We might be dismayed to learn that the long-awaited sequel project will never see the light of day, due to Disney’s desire not to be associated with any one character. The character in question is Jessica Rabbit, Roger’s overtly sensual, cartoon-animated human wife. According to a recent article in Variety, Who Framed Roger Rabbit Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis says Jessica Rabbit is just too sexy for modern Disney, although he refuses to tone her down in order to get a green light for a sequel.
A sequel script exists
Zemeckis specifically spoke about the potential future of Who Framed Roger Rabbit franchise during a recent podcast appearance, in which he confirmed that he had written a sequel script many years ago. Despite his desire to return to film, which expertly blends hand-drawn animation and live performance in an unprecedented technological leap for cinema, Disney executives have made no secret of their disdain.
Zemeckis even went so far as to assert that the original Roger Rabbit The film would never have been made in today’s climate, since Disney is so reluctant to show the inherent sex appeal of Jessica Rabbit in all her cartoon glory.
Jessica Rabbit is too sexy for Disney
To further illustrate his point on a Roger Rabbit With the sequel completely dead on arrival, Robert Zemeckis has pointed out the treatment of Jessica Rabbit’s character within the Disney theme park. Apparently, a model of the cartoon’s voluptuous woman was displayed prominently outside Disneyland’s “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin” ride, wearing her sparkling red dress and elbow-length purple gloves. In 2021, Jessica Rabbit’s presentation on the ride was composed long ago and replaced with an iteration of the character’s buxom figure buried under a trench coat.
Jessica Rabbit isn’t the only character to receive this treatment either, as many fans were quick to point out shortly after the 2021 film’s release. Space Jam: a new legacy. A bit like Who Framed Roger Rabbitthe original Space jam centered much of its narrative around an overtly sexual depiction of Lola Bunny, which simply didn’t fit with modern Disney trends in the sequel.
If there’s any hope of bringing Jessica Rabbit back to the big screen in the future, she may need the same retooling as Lola, although that’s easier said than done for a character built entirely on the being a sex symbol.
We will never see the rest
Maybe start a Roger Rabbit a sequel with a covert Jessica Rabbit wouldn’t be such a problem, although Zemeckis says the character’s exaggerated status as a sex symbol is integral to the plot. Indeed, Jessica’s breezy outfit, voluptuous curves, and breathy, sensual voice each contributed majorly to the original. Who Framed Roger RabbitThe success of- not just for atmospheric purposes, but also as plot points necessary to the film’s narrative. While no one can really be sure what the filmmaker had planned for his long-awaited sequel, it seems clear that putting Jessica Rabbit in a puffer coat and a pair of Uggs is completely out of the question.
In describing the condemned Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel, Zemeckis highlighted the depth of depravity that old Disney films often showed. He compared old-school animated projects to films made for adult audiences, although children were welcome. Now that Disney has turned its back on Jessica Rabbit, it’s important to note that she’s not bad, she’s just drawn that way – and if Robert Zemeckis is involved, that’s the only way she’ll be drawn .
Source: Variety