In our continuing coverage of the proposed It’s a Wonderful Life sequel (you can read the original article here), Paramount, who owns the rights to the original, has put its foot down firmly, stating:
No project relating to It’s a Wonderful Life can proceed without a license from Paramount. To date, these individuals have not obtained any of the necessary rights, and we would take all appropriate steps to protect those rights.
So it looks sounds the project is dead in the water…
and that is the best news this new potential movie could ask for!
Now for those of you who think my mind has slipped a gear, allow me to explain myself. The manner in which the people behind this new movie were going about things made the whole thing stink of a cheap cash grab. All it seemed they were doing was playing off a beloved movie in an attempt to make a buck. Now the backers of this film have to get creative, and this is provides a chance for some real magic to occur!
In my previous article, I suggested that trying to make a spiritual sequel rather than an actual one would be the way to go. In order to avoid a protracted legal battle with a well-funded studio, that’s the approach the makers of this film are going to have to take if they ever expect to get this project off the ground. Instead of making another It’s a Wonderful Life, they can focus on making their own film their own way, yet true to the spirit and messages of the classic film. Keep the same casting too, Karolyn Grimes’ inclusion (she played Zuzu in the 1946 movie) goes from a pathetic attempt to validate a sequel movie to a clever nod to what this new film is trying to accomplish. Turn this setback into an opportunity people, and go forth and make the best damn movie you can!
So, what say you fine people, do you think they should try and salvage It’s a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story, or call it quits here and now? Let us know in the comments below!
