‘Woke’ Disney refuse to make sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? because Jessica Rabbit is ‘too sexy’, claims director
Robert Zemeckis, the director of the animated classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, has claimed that the company refused to greenlight the sequel to the beloved flick
From updating park policies to stop staff from using gendered greetings to removing controversial imagery from rides and movies, Disney has made numerous moves toward inclusivity in recent years—but some critics argue the company has gone too far in its “woke” decision-making.
The latest controversy involves the beloved 1988 animated/live-action classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Director Robert Zemeckis recently claimed that Disney refused to greenlight a sequel to the hit film.
Zemeckis suggested the reason may be the character Jessica Rabbit, whose glamorous and sultry design may not align with Disney’s current standards. The original film, released by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, follows a detective forced to help clear Roger Rabbit of a murder he didn’t commit. The movie was a massive success, earning $351 million worldwide and earning acclaim for its clever mix of animation and live-action.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zemeckis revealed that a script for a sequel exists and would thrill longtime fans—but it likely won’t ever be produced. While he initially encountered enthusiastic support from Disney executives, the project ultimately stalled.
“There’s a good script sitting at Disney, but the current Disney would never make Roger Rabbit today,” Zemeckis said, noting that the company has issues with Jessica Rabbit’s character. “They can’t make a movie with Jessica in it. So the sequel script isn’t ever going to see the light of day, as good as it is.”
Zemeckis also pointed out that Disney toned down Jessica Rabbit’s appearance for the Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin attraction at Disneyland, dressing her in a trench coat. Still, he insisted he would not alter her look for a potential sequel, saying, “I’m making [the sequel to] Roger Rabbit the way I believe Walt Disney would have made it. Walt Disney never made any of his movies for children. He always made them for adults. And that’s what I decided to do with Roger Rabbit.”
Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This isn’t the first time the company has updated its classic films and characters to align with modern sensibilities. Recent live-action remakes, including Rachel Zegler’s Snow White, have reimagined characters and storylines to reflect diversity, such as portraying the Seven Dwarfs as a varied group of magical creatures. Other changes include a same-sex kiss in Lightyear, Minnie Mouse swapping her iconic red polka-dot dress for a blue pantsuit by Stella McCartney, and removing problematic elements from rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
Disney also announced in December 2022 that Splash Mountain, based on the 1946 film Song of the South, would be permanently closed and replaced with a ride inspired by The Princess and the Frog. Song of the South had previously been removed from streaming services due to its racially insensitive content.
“We want to make sure everybody has the best time—guests from all over the world can connect with the stories we share and that how we bring those to life is respectful of the diverse world we live in,” said Chris Beatty, Walt Disney Imagineering creative portfolio executive, during a D23 presentation.
While many applaud Disney’s inclusivity efforts, critics continue to question whether the company has gone too far in reshaping its classic stories.
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