Editing Who Framed Roger Rabbit (section)

===Cancelled sequel===
Spielberg discussed a sequel in 1989 with [[J. J. Abrams]] as writer and Zemeckis as producer. Abrams' outline was eventually abandoned.<ref>{{cite AV media | author1 = [[J. J. Abrams]] | author2 = [[Dan Trachtenberg]] | date = March 11, 2016 | title = Episode 791: Nerdist Podcast - J.J. Abrams and Dan Trachtenberg | language = en | url = https://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-j-j-abrams-and-dan-trachtenberg/ | time = 01:24:55 | access-date = June 13, 2016 | publisher = [[The Nerdist Podcast]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624024531/http://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-j-j-abrams-and-dan-trachtenberg/ | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Nat Mauldin was hired to write a prequel titled ''Roger Rabbit: The Toon Platoon'', set in 1941 to 1943. Similar to the previous film, ''Toon Platoon'' featured many cameo appearances by characters from [[Golden age of American animation|The Golden Age of American Animation]]. It began with Roger Rabbit's early years, living on a farm in the midwestern United States.<ref name="Gore" /> With human Ritchie Davenport, Roger travels west to seek his mother, in the process meeting Jessica Krupnick (his future wife), a struggling Hollywood actress. While Roger and Ritchie are enlisting in the Army, Jessica is kidnapped and forced to make pro-[[Nazi German]] broadcasts. Roger and Ritchie must save her by going into [[Nazi-occupied Europe]] accompanied by several other Toons in their Army platoon. After their triumph, Roger and Ritchie are given a [[Hollywood Boulevard]] parade, and Roger is finally reunited with his mother and father, [[Bugs Bunny]].<ref name="Gore">{{cite book | author = [[Chris Gore]] | title = The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made | date = July 1999 | publisher = [[St. Martin's Press]] | location = New York City | chapter = Roger Rabbit Two: The Toon Platoon | pages = [https://archive.org/details/50greatestmovies00gore/page/165 165–168] | isbn = 0-312-20082-X | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/50greatestmovies00gore/page/165 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2005/08/07/script-review-roger-rabbit-ii-the-toon-platoon/ | title = Script Review: Roger Rabbit II: Toon Platoon | work = FilmBuffOnline.com | access-date = September 7, 2012 | archive-date = November 16, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121116205015/http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2005/08/07/script-review-roger-rabbit-ii-the-toon-platoon/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

Mauldin later retitled his script ''Who Discovered Roger Rabbit''. Spielberg left the project when deciding he could not satirize [[Nazism|Nazis]] after directing ''[[Schindler's List]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine | author = Steve Daly | url = https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192040,00.html | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = April 16, 2008 | title = Steven Spielberg and George Lucas: The Titans Talk! | access-date = April 17, 2008 | archive-date = April 20, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420105220/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192040,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="world">{{cite news|author=Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman |title=Who Screwed Roger Rabbit? |work=Animation World Magazine |url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1739 |date=April 3, 2003 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218205551/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1739 |archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref> Eisner commissioned a rewrite in 1997 with [[Sherri Stoner]] and [[Deanna Oliver]]. Although they kept Roger's search for his mother, Stoner and Oliver replaced the WWII subplot with Roger's inadvertent rise to stardom on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] and Hollywood. Disney was impressed and [[Alan Menken]] was hired to write five songs for the film and offered his services as executive producer.<ref name="world" /> One of the songs, "This Only Happens in the Movies", was recorded in 2008 on the debut album of Broadway actress [[Kerry Butler]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butlers-Faith-Trust-and-Pixie-Dust-Set-For-May-Release-20080228 | title = Kerry Butler's 'Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust' Set For May Release | work = Broadway World | date = February 28, 2008 | access-date = November 4, 2008 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026135505/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butlers-Faith-Trust-and-Pixie-Dust-Set-For-May-Release-20080228 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Eric Goldberg (film director)|Eric Goldberg]] was set to be the new animation director, and began to redesign Roger's new character appearance.<ref name="world" />

Spielberg became busy establishing [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]], while Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy decided to remain as producers. Test footage for ''Who Discovered Roger Rabbit'' was shot sometime in 1998 at the Disney animation unit in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]; the results were a mix of CGI, traditional animation, and live-action that did not please Disney. A second test had the toons completely converted to [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]], but this was dropped as the film's projected budget would escalate past $100 million. Eisner felt it was best to cancel the film.<ref name="world" /> In March 2003, producer [[Don Hahn]] doubted a sequel, arguing that public tastes had changed since the 1990s with the rise of computer animation. "There was something very special about that time when animation was not as much in the forefront as it is now."<ref>{{cite news | author = Staff | url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-03-26-rabbit_x.htm | title = Don't expect a ''Rabbit'' sequel | work = [[USA Today]] | date = March 26, 2003 | access-date = September 5, 2014 | archive-date = June 29, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090629044818/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-03-26-rabbit_x.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

In December 2007, Marshall stated that he was still "open" to the idea,<ref name="Frank">{{cite news | url = https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2007/12/11/roger-rabbit-sequel-still-in-the-offing-stay-tooned-says-producer/ | title = ''Roger Rabbit'' Sequel Still In The Offing? Stay Tooned, Says Producer | author = Shawn Adler | date = September 11, 2007 | work = [[MTV]] Movies Blog | access-date = November 4, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121017173326/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/12/11/roger-rabbit-sequel-still-in-the-offing-stay-tooned-says-producer/ | archive-date = October 17, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and in April 2009, Zemeckis revealed he was still interested.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Ditzian|title=Robert Zemeckis 'Buzzing' About Second 'Roger Rabbit' Movie|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|date=April 29, 2009|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2009/04/29/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-buzzing-about-second-roger-rabbit-movie/|access-date=April 29, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627064600/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/04/29/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-buzzing-about-second-roger-rabbit-movie|archive-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> According to a 2009 [[MTV News]] story, Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman were writing a new script for the project, and the animated characters would be in traditional two-dimensional, while the rest would be in [[motion capture]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2009/11/03/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-indicates-hell-use-performance-capture-and-3-d-in-roger-rabbit-sequel/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Robert Zemeckis Indicates He'll Use Performance-Capture And 3-D In 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel |publisher=Moviesblog.mtv.com |access-date=November 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101103072903/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/11/03/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-indicates-hell-use-performance-capture-and-3-d-in-roger-rabbit-sequel/ |archive-date=November 3, 2010  }}</ref> In 2010, [[Bob Hoskins]] had agreed to sign on for a sequel, but expressed scepticism about the use of "performance capture" in the film.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.contactmusic.com/bob-hoskins/news/roger-rabbit-sequel-perplexes-bob-hoskins_1167555 |title= Roger Rabbit Sequel Perplexes Bob Hoskins |last= Irwin |first= Lew |date= 2010-09-22 |website= contactmusic.com |publisher= Contact Music |accessdate= 2023-01-09}}</ref> Zemeckis said that the sequel would remain hand-drawn animated and live-action sequences will be filmed, just like in the original film, but the lighting effects on the cartoon characters and some of the props that the toons handle will be done digitally.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://toontownantics.blogspot.com/2010/07/roger-rabbit-2-in-3d.html |title=Toontown Antics - Roger Rabbit's adventures in real and animated life: Roger Rabbit 2 – In 3D? |publisher=Toontownantics.blogspot.com |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003162428/http://toontownantics.blogspot.com/2010/07/roger-rabbit-2-in-3d.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2010, Hahn, who was the film's original associate producer, confirmed the sequel's development in an interview with ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''. He stated, "Yeah, I couldn't possibly comment. I deny completely, but yeah... if you're a fan, pretty soon you're going to be very, very, very happy."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28191 |title=Exclusive: The Lion King To Go 3D! &#124; Movie News | work= Empire |publisher=Empireonline.com |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131021034315/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28191 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hoskins retired from acting in 2012 after a [[Parkinson's disease]] diagnosis a year earlier, and died from [[pneumonia]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-08-08/bob-hoskins-retires-from-acting/ |title= Bob Hoskins retires from acting |publisher=Itv.com |date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123334/http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-08-08/bob-hoskins-retires-from-acting/ |archive-date= October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Marshall confirmed that the film would be a prequel, similar to earlier drafts, and that the writing was almost complete.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/frank-marshall-roger-rabbit-2-sequel-bourne-legacy/187006/ |title=Frank Marshall Talks WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT 2 Sequel, THE BOURNE LEGACY, THE GOONIES 2, More |website=Collider |access-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065805/http://collider.com/frank-marshall-roger-rabbit-2-sequel-bourne-legacy/187006 |url-status=live }}</ref> During an interview at the premiere of his film ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'', Zemeckis stated that the sequel was still possible, despite Hoskins' absence, and the script for the sequel was sent to Disney for approval from studio executives.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Russ|title=Despite Bob Hoskins' Retirement, the 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel is Still Possible|date=October 15, 2012|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/despite-bob-hoskins-retirement-the-roger-rabbit-sequel-is-still-possible/|publisher=[[SlashFilm|/Film]]|access-date=October 16, 2012|archive-date=October 17, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121017234155/http://www.slashfilm.com/despite-bob-hoskins-retirement-the-roger-rabbit-sequel-is-still-possible/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2013, Gary K. Wolf, writer of the original novel, said Erik Von Wodtke and he were working on a development proposal for an animated Disney buddy comedy starring Mickey Mouse and Roger Rabbit called ''The Stooge'', based on [[The Stooge|the 1952 film of the same name]]. The proposed film is set in a prequel, taking place five years before ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' and part of the story is about how Roger met Jessica. Wolf has stated the film is currently wending its way through Disney.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30567 |title=• View topic - Mickey Mouse & Roger Rabbit in The Stooge |date=March 13, 2013 |publisher=Dvdizzy.com |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728130030/http://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30567 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2016, while promoting his film ''[[Allied (film)|Allied]]'' in England, Zemeckis stated that the sequel "moves the story of Roger and Jessica Rabbit into the next few years of period film, moving on from film noir to the world of the 1950s". He also stated that the sequel would feature a "digital Bob Hoskins", as Eddie Valiant would return in "ghost form". While the director went on to state that the script is "terrific" and the film would still use hand-drawn animation, Zemeckis thinks that the chances of Disney green-lighting the sequel are "slim". As he explained more in detail, "The current corporate Disney culture has no interest in Roger, and they certainly don't like Jessica at all".<ref>{{cite web|last=Brew|first=Simon|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 would include "digital Bob Hoskins"|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/45599/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2-would-include-digital-bob-hoskins|publisher=Den of Geek|access-date=November 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130054422/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/45599/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2-would-include-digital-bob-hoskins|archive-date=November 30, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2018, while promoting his film ''[[Welcome to Marwen]]'' and given the 30th anniversary of ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'', Zemeckis reiterated in an interview with [[Yahoo! Movies]] that though the sequel's script is "wonderful", Disney is still unlikely to ever produce it, and he does not see the possibility of producing it as an original film for the streaming service [[Disney+]], as he feels that it does not make any sense as there is no "[[Disney Princess|Princess]]" in it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Butler|first=Tom|title=Robert Zemeckis on 'Welcome To Marwen', 'Back To The Future, and 'Roger Rabbit 2'|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/robert-zemeckis-welcome-marwen-back-future-roger-rabbit-2-110025983.html|publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228185850/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/robert-zemeckis-welcome-marwen-back-future-roger-rabbit-2-110025983.html|archive-date=December 28, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2024, while promoting his latest film ''[[Here (2024 film)|Here]]'', Zemeckis again said that one of the reasons Disney will never produce the script, "as good as it is", is that Disney finds Jessica Rabbit "too hot", citing that they dressed her in a [[trench coat]] in the [[Disneyland]] attraction ''[[Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin]]''. Zemeckis said that the original film was made at the right time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharf|first=Zack|title=Jessica Rabbit Too Hot for Disney? Robert Zemeckis Says Studio 'Can't Make a Movie With Her' Anymore: 'They Put Her in a Trench Coach' at Disneyland|date=November 2024 |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jessica-rabbit-sexy-disney-robert-zemeckis-calls-out-studio-1236197376/|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 2, 2024}}</ref>