Star Partners and Hummingbird Prods. are reportedly developing a follow-up to Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life and not a made-for-TV Hallmark-Lifetime-ABC Family-style sequel, but an actual feature film.
Producer Bob Farnsowth of Hummingbird and Martha Bolton, who also wrote a lot of Bob Hope TV movies back in the '80s and '90s, have already written the screenplay, which revolves around George Bailey's grandson being visited by an angel. Karolyn Grimes, who played Jimmy Stewart's daughter Zuzu in the original, will reprise her role of the angel in the proposed sequel.
The now 73-year old actress 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.
The producers are seeking out other original cast members like Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey) and Carol Coombs (Janie Bailey), to return for the sequel. They are currently looking at potential directors with plans to film most of the movie in Louisiana with a budget of $25 to 30 million and hoping to get the movie into theaters by the 2015 holiday season. The sequel has been titled It's A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story.
Starring Stewart and Donna Reed, the original was nominated for five Oscars. The 1946 film centers on the life of family man George Bailey who wishes he was never born on Christmas Eve after a series of disappointments and disasters in his life. A guardian angel intervenes to show Bailey what his loved ones' lives would be like had he never been born, restoring happiness, hope and holiday cheer to Bailey, his family and his town.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4BMdZlb0_E
