Live-Action Jessica Rabbit Movie Potentially in the Works
Gary K. Wolf, the creator of Roger Rabbit, has officially regained the rights to his famous characters.
The news was shared in an interview with ImNotBad.com and Jessica Rabbit World. After decades, the characters and books that Wolf created are now back in his hands thanks to the 35-Year Copyright Reversion Clause. This rule allows creators to reclaim the rights to their work 35 years after selling them.
Wolf says this opens the door for new projects, including movies and series based on his original stories.
One of the projects already taking shape is a live-action Jessica Rabbit film. This won’t be a remake of the 1988 movie, but a new story inspired by Wolf’s 2022 book, Jessica Rabbit: XERIOUS Business. “The one that is most prominent … is a live-action Jessica Rabbit movie based on the book Jessica Rabbit: XERIOUS Business. That was the first project that we took a look at and the first we started developing. It’s probably the one that’s furthest along right now,” Wolf said.
He emphasized that any new projects must match or exceed the original movie in quality. “Any sequels that we do have to at least match the quality of the original movie. In production value, in tone, in script content, in empathy, in character development. It has to be as good, or better than, what we did before. That’s what the fans want, and I have promised the fans that’s what I’m going to give them.”
Wolf also clarified that he would like Disney to be part of future projects if possible. “I would love to work with Disney again. I’d love for Disney to participate in this. We could partner up on this. There’s a core group of people who were involved with the first movie, and I would love to work with those people again. Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy. I’d love to have Charles Fleischer come back and voice the rabbit again.”
The rights reverted quietly about a year ago, giving Wolf time to plan how to bring the Roger Rabbit world back to screens. Wolf also explained that he had been surprised the reversion was possible. “35 years after you have sold the rights to a book or [song], you could petition the Library of Congress and get those rights back. [An attorney] said to me, ‘You could get your rights back from Disney.’ I said, ‘There’s no way that’s possible.’”
The live-action Jessica Rabbit movie will let Wolf explore his world in new ways while keeping the tone and style fans love. “I’m looking to have fun with this and give the fans what they have been wanting now for 35 years,” he said.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
