It’s been so long since the idea of a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire hit the news radar that we were beginning to think it would end up going the reboot route before any official follow-up happened. But Fox 2000 is not letting Euphegenia Doubtfire die peacefully, and is making a new attempt to convince director Christopher Columbus and star Robin Williams to re-visit the character{
You’re probably aware that the 1993 film saw Williams as struggling actor Daniel Hillard, who was desperate to maintain a relationship with his children following the recent divorce from his wife Miranda (Sally Field). In order to stay close, he concocts the elderly Scottish housekeeper character and applies to be their carer with predictably disastrous results. The movie was a hit at the box office, and all involved thought a sequel might happen, but no one could find an idea they liked.
Bonnie Hunt was hired to write a script in 2001, but as other scribes came and went, the excitement for the idea waxed and waned until, around 2004, the last mention of it flickered and faded.
Now, Elf’s David Berenbaum is on board to try again. His actual concept for the sequel isn’t clear, and we don’t yet know if it’ll acknowledge the passing of time – after all, would anyone believe that Mrs. Doubtfire would still be alive after all this time? And why would he need to dress up given that everyone came clean last time? Perhaps Daniel Hillard will resurrect her to care for his grandchildren?
However it shakes out, Columbus and Williams are attached but will wait to see the script before deciding to take things further. If there’s any justice, we’ll get a dust-off between Doubtfire and Tobias Fünke’s Mrs. Featherbottom{