‘Are You Guys Allergic To Money?’: Tom Hanks Tells Us Why Forrest Gump 2 Never Happened, Despite The Studio Begging For It

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As a devoted cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of Hollywood over the years, I can wholeheartedly appreciate Tom Hanks’ unwavering commitment to storytelling and artistic integrity. His refusal to greenlight a Forrest Gump sequel, despite the potential financial gains, speaks volumes about his dedication to the craft and the art of filmmaking.

As a gamer, I’d say: Take a quick peek at Tom Hanks’ movie history. You won’t find many sequels. He did a few adaptations of Dan Brown novels, portraying Robert Langdon, and he’s been a key part of the Toy Story series, lending his voice to Woody. However, Hanks often plays characters whose stories reach a satisfying end. Sometimes that means they pass on. Other times, it simply means the storyline has reached its limit. That seems to be the case with Forrest Gump, a gripping drama that dominated the Oscars and earned Hanks his second Best Actor award. There have been rumors of a sequel, Forrest Gump 2, but Hanks himself clarified this with TopMob.

Recently, discussions surrounding Forrest Gump have been prevalent due to Tom Hanks’ recent collaboration with Robin Wright and director Robert Zemeckis for the heartwarming drama titled Here. During his promotional tour, Hanks shared insights about nearly bringing Forrest Gump 2 to life on TopMob’s official ReelBlend podcast. Unsurprisingly, the studio was enthusiastic about the idea. However, as Hanks revealed to ReelBlend, the project almost came to fruition.

Eric Roth, Bob, and I gathered and Eric essentially outlined what the sequel might look like. The studio responded with something like, “Are you guys averse to earning money?” They essentially asked if we didn’t want them to shower us with coins. I replied, “Well, honestly, we don’t know!” So, we discussed potential scenarios for the project. We considered creating a narrative, developing a plot, and shaping events that would befit the characters. We brainstormed something that could work. However, our meeting was just about discussing possibilities because when it was finished, we simply decided, “This isn’t necessary.” Why continue a story that reached its own natural and satisfactory ending? So, yes. Discussed. Never going to materialize.

It’s truly impressive how Tom Hanks maintains such integrity, choosing not to pursue sequels for the sake of easy money. Given his role as the lead character and one of the key creative forces behind the franchise, it’s clear that he, Zemeckis, and screenwriter Eric Roth recognized that they had completed the story they intended to tell. Even with a book serving as a source material, there was no compulsion to continue the narrative.

As our conversation with Hanks delved deeper into the industry, it became clearer that if Forrest Gump were produced now, there could be a greater chance for a sequel. In fact, Hanks shared this insight with ReelBlend.

Today, the landscape for filmmaking has significantly evolved. If we were to produce a movie similar to Forrest Gump today, studios might demand a contract stipulating a sequel due to the dominant influence of intellectual property rights in greenlighting films. Therefore, I’m unsure if… Frankly, this is a question we often ponder: ‘Could we manage making a film like Forrest Gump now?’ In terms of story, perhaps certain elements related to Forrest’s character could be adapted. However, I doubt a studio would agree without some assurance of a follow-up, in one form or another.

Indeed, he’s correct to some extent. Tom Hanks, much like many others, still holds the power to draw audiences to films such as “Here“, even without a confirmed sequel in sight. But, if we take a look at the upcoming releases, Denzel Washington – who shared the screen with Tom Hanks in “Philadelphia” and is one of our timeless legends – can be found starring in “Gladiator 2”. As Hanks puts it, Intellectual Property (IP) reigns supreme.

Catch the full Tom Hanks interview on ReelBlend now:

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2024-11-03 23:39