Forrest Gump is one of the most quintessential classic films of the 1990s. The film continues to resonate strongly with audiences today, some even calling it hilariously nihilistic. Forrest Gump was one of the rare films that became a box office sensation and a resounding critical success; In addition to being the highest-grossing film of 1994, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture, where it controversially outperformed other classic films such as The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction. Tom HanksThe hopelessly sweet performance of the most optimistic person on the planet proved that he can be both deliciously hilarious and downright heartbreaking. Given the film’s somewhat melancholy ending, many viewers were hoping to see the day Forrest returned to the big screen; oddly enough, he almost did.
Screenwriter Eric Roth adapted Forrest Gump from the novel of the same name Winston Groomwho went on to write a sequel to his original literary classic a year after the film became a hit. Gump & Co. continues Forrest’s adventures into the 1980s, where he becomes involved in historical events such as the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Gulf War. Considering how successful the first film was, it’s no surprise that the director Robert Zemeckis, Hanks and Roth at least talked about adaptation Gump & Co. like a feature film.
Both Hanks and Zemeckis were extremely active in the 1990s and worked on several high-profile projects that prevented them from returning to the idea. Gump & Co. Although Roth began work on an outline for the sequel and completed the outline by the end of 2001, the script was placed in development hell after a national tragedy forced the creative team to rethink their intentions. Gump & Co. would no doubt be an exciting experiment if it actually happened; how do you create a sequel to a film that is so widely regarded as perfect?
What is Gump & Co. O?
Forrest Gump fans will remember that the first film ends in the early 1980s, when, in one of the most emotional moments in film history, Forrest learns that Jenny (Robin Wright) is pregnant with his child, whom she names Forrest Jr. (Hayley Joel Osment). Forrest agrees to take his son to his first day of school and tries to pass on to him the knowledge he has learned in all his adventures. This is a slight difference from the original novel, which did not mention Jenny’s death. Gump & Co. begins in the mid-1980s when Forrest and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Seniz) is unable to keep up with the demands of the shrimp market.
After their business fails and Forrest is briefly hired (and then fired) by the New Orleans Saints, Forrest decides to start a new venture to help support his son as he grows up. Given that Forrest’s plans usually end in disaster, he inadvertently invents the disastrous “New Coke” before stumbling back to Washington, D.C., where he reunites with Dan. Unfortunately, his old friend has gone blind, and Forrest decides to return to military service to support his trusted lieutenant. Once again, things go awry as Forrest briefly meets with President Reagan before being named a “front guy” in the Iran-Contra affair; he is immediately imprisoned, while the other conspirators go free.
The novel continues to venture into even more bizarre territory when Forrest ends up meeting the real Tom Hanks (who doesn’t impress him) and gets a visit from Jenny’s ghost. Although the novel details Forrest’s later encounters with President George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton, much of the story focuses on his difficult relationship with the teenager Forrest Jr., who, like his mother, became a rebellious alcoholic. Forrest is able to reform his son and Jenny’s ghost gives him her blessing to marry Gretchen, a German girl he fell in love with abroad. Ironically, this leaves the story in 1994, allowing Forrest and Gretchen to go see Forrest Gump movie on the big screen.
Eric Roth’s ideas for Forrest Gump 2
While it was unclear whether the derisive metalinks are from Gump & Co. would have been part of his script, Roth intended to follow a similar structure to the first film, featuring Forrest in some major historical events. Roth even mentioned that in his script, Forrest was supposed to be in the back seat of O.J. Simpson’s Bronco during the infamous 1994 car chase and that he would be dancing with Princess Diana at a charity ball.
Gump & Co. would go in darker directions; many moviegoers have suggested that, judging by the ending of the first film, Jenny was diagnosed with AIDS before her death. This is dealt with directly in the sequel, as Forrest realizes his son has the same illness, causing problems when he is driven to school in Florida. Forrest also befriends a Native American woman who invites him to play bingo with her; unfortunately, Forrest shows up and discovers she was playing at the Alfred P. Murr Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which was bombed in 1995.
Why was Forrest Gump 2 cancelled?
Although Groom had given Zemeckis, Hanks, and Roth his blessing to make the sequel, the three original staff members felt that the sequel Forrest Gump would not have felt respect after 9/11. Roth turned in a draft on September 10, 2001, but met with Hanks and Zemeckis the next day to “sympathize with life in America and how tragic it is.” Roth noted that we looked at each other and said, “In that sense, this movie doesn’t make sense anymore.”
Tom Hanks was initially resistant to the project and said that his talks about the possibility of making another film lasted less than an hour. Hanks proudly stated that he never signed a contract that required him to reprise his role in the sequel, and that “we made an effort to talk about something else.” Forrest Gump it lasted all 40 minutes.” Although Cinema Blend reported in 2007 that Paramount Pictures had once again revised the script, no updates have been received since.
Forrest Gump remains a timeless classic that is a success as it is passed down from generation to generation; the film performed well during its 20th anniversary theatrical re-release, and it is still a story people return to after national tragedies. Perhaps it’s best that there never be a misguided sequel to tarnish Forrest Gumpvirgin reputation.
Source: Collider
