A special DreamWorks edition of Why For

Jim Hill

18 years ago

First up, Robert M. writes in to ask:

Jim,

This may have been asked before. But since Robert Zemeckis is now back with Disney, what do you think the chances are that they will try to produce that long anticipated Roger Rabbit sequel?

Rob M.

Rob M.

To be honest, I think that the ship has already sailed on a Roger Rabbit sequel.

The last time I heard of anyone at the Mouse House talking seriously about possibly going forward with a follow-up to Zemeckis’ 1988 Academy Award-winner was back in 1997. And that was when animation master Eric Goldberg produced that test to see whether or not Roger Rabbit would work in the CG format. Here’s an image that was culled from that test.

And — as you can see — Roger actually looked pretty good as a computer animated character.

But in the end, given that “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was a co-production of Touchstone Pictures & Steven Spielberg‘s Amblin Productions, no sequel can ever go forward without Spielberg’s co-operation.

Mind you, there have been a few recent developments that suggest that it might someday be possible for Steven to once again collaborate with the Mouse. Take — for example — this tidbit from that Bob Iger profile that Ronald Grover wrote for last week’s issue of Businessweek:

Iger has also reached out to former Disney people who can help him chart a new strategic direction. One regular dinner companion is former studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg. Disney recently agreed to air a Shrek Christmas special produced by Katzenberg’s DreamWorks Animation.

Given that Katzenberg is one of Spielberg’s partners over at DreamWorks SKG … If ever there was anyone who could put in a good word for Mickey with Steven, it would probably be Jeffrey. And given that the Mouse just ponied up a large chunk of change so that “Shrek the Halls” could be an ABC exclusive for the next five years … Well, who knows? Maybe that investment will eventually lead to Spielberg renewing his working relationship with the Walt Disney Company.

But as for a Roger Rabbit sequel … Rob, it’s almost been 19 years since the original film was released to theaters. And that’s an awfully long time to go between installments in a series. Sure, there were those shorts that helped audiences interested in Roger, Jessica & Baby Herman. But it’s been 14 years now since the most recent Roger Rabbit short — “Trail Mix-Up” — was produced. Again, that’s an enormous amount of time to be away from the screen

Of course, that said … In the next few months, Steve Spielberg will begin shooting a new Indiana Jones movie. And this will be the first new installment in that series since “The Last Crusade” was released back in May of 1989. So if the Indiana Jones series can make a comeback after lying fallow for 18 years, who’s to say that the Roger Rabbit franchise can’t then be revived after lying dormant for nearly two decades?

Let’s put it this way: If “Enchanted” turns out to be an enormous hit this Fall, chances are that Walt Disney Studios will then explore the idea of producing even more movies that mix live action and traditional animation. And if that’s the case … We could possibly see yet another attempt at reviving the Roger Rabbit franchise.

But — again — before anything like that can happen, Mickey has to mend fences with Steven Spielberg. So here’s hoping that — over one of those dinners that Bob & Jeffrey supposedly have — that Iger asks Katzenberg to p-p-p-p-p-lease put in a good word with Spielberg.

Next up, Gavin D. writes in to ask:

Hi

Just wondering if you know what the deal is behind Aardman and DreamWorks splitting company?

Is it as simple as the media here in the UK are reporting that the American market just didn’t get the humor, hence the films flopped. Or is there something more to all this?

Regards

Gavin D.

Cardiff UK

Dear Gavin,

Based on what Aardman insiders have told me, it wasn’t so much that American audiences didn’t get the jokes. But — rather — that DreamWorks Animation executives were so concerned that U.S. moviegoers might not get the gags that they kept asking for change after change. Which eventually bled a lot of the quirky charm out of “Wallace & Gromit — The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” & “Flushed Away.”

Plus — truth be told — there was still reportedly some residual bad feelings that came in the wake of DreamWorks’ decision to pull the plug on the film that was originally supposed to have been Aardman’s follow-up to “Chicken Run,” “Tortoise vs. Hare.” That mock documentary (Which originally featured Michael Caine as the voice of the Tortoise) was supposedly deemed to be far too Anglo-centric to appeal to a worldwide audience. Which is why production of “Tortoise” was halted in July of 2001 and Aardman then began work on a Wallace & Gromit-based feature.

Curiously, Aardman allegedly put “Tortoise and the Hare” back into development in January of 2006. And it’s now looking quite likely that this once-abandoned project (With Bob Hoskins now providing the voice of Maurice the Tortoise) could be Aardman’s first post-DreamWorks release.

Obviously, it’s kind of a odd time for the folks at Aardman Animations Ltd. So much is up in the air right now. What with DreamWorks Animation opting out of their original five picture deal with the Bristol-based studio after just three movies were completed as well as CBS having yet to schedule that American version of “Creature Comforts” that they ordered up from Aardman last year. Here’s hoping that they line up a U.S. distributor for the now-titled “The Tortoise and the Hare” soon.

And finally, Family Fred writes in to ask:

Do you have any news on the Disney in-jokes that DreamWorks will be slipping into “Shrek the Third“?

Funny you should ask. I just had someone send me these image captures from the “Shrek the Third” trailer. They’re from a scene in the film where Snow White rips the sleeves off of her dress as she gets ready to battle with Prince Charming’s evil minions.

Just for a second there, the camera zooms in Snow White’s upper arm. Where there’s a tattoo that reads “Dopey.”

In the weeks ahead, I’m sure that the crew over at DreamWorks Animation will be cluing us in to all of the other Disney in-jokes that are stashed away in this third Shrek film. As I get word of these Mouse-related gags, I’ll be sure and post them here on JHM.

Well, that’s it for this week’s special DreamWorks-related edition of Why For. You folks have a great weekend, okay?