One of the most loved films of American cinema, the Frank Capra-directed 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, has a sequel in the works titled It’s A wonderful Life: The Rest Of The Story.
It’s A Wonderful Life was based on the 1939 short story “The Greatest Gift” and was a box office failure, convincing studio heads that Frank Capra no longer had what it took to make his legendary must see films. It went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards, and is one The American Film Institute’s 100 Best Films Ever Made, and the #1 inspirational movie of all time.
It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, a man who has always sacrificed his own dreams for others, always giving and helping people. On Christmas Eve, after his business has suffered several devastating set-backs and his younger brother (who he saved from drowning when he was a child) receives a hero’s medal for valor in World War II, George feels like a failure and contemplates suicide. He gets drunk, leaves his wife (played by Donna Reed) and family and goes down to the old town bridge where his guardian angel intervenes and shows George what life would have been like if he hadn’t done all of his wonderful acts of kindness.
It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story will focus on George Bailey’s grandson, and will (according to producer Bob Farnsworth) “retains [sic] the spirit of the original – every life is important as long as you have friends.” Karolyn Grimes, who played the Bailey’s youngest child Zuzu in the original film, will return to play the Angel in the sequel.
Farnsworth and Hummingbird Pictures will be partnering with Allen Schwalb of Star Pictures on the production. No director has been selected but Farnsworth and Martha Bolton have penned the screenplay.
It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story is planned to be in theaters for the 2015 holiday season.
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