It was April 2014 when the internet basically had a collective meltdown because Fox 2000 finally confirmed a sequel was happening. Most people don't realize how close we actually got to seeing Mrs. Doubtfire 2 movie hit the big screen. It wasn't just some idle rumor or a "maybe" floating around a studio office. The gears were turning. Scripts were being polished. Contracts were being discussed.
Then, everything stopped.
Looking back at it now, the history of this sequel is kind of a tragic "what if" story. It spent over a decade in what Hollywood calls "development hell" before a sudden spark of life in early 2014. If things had gone differently, we might have seen Daniel Hillard donning the bodysuit one last time. But the reality of why it vanished—and why it will never, ever happen now—is a mix of creative pickiness, physical toll, and a loss that changed comedy forever.
The Script That Almost Made It
For years, Robin Williams and director Chris Columbus were the biggest roadblocks to a sequel. They weren't being difficult; they just didn't want to ruin the legacy of a film that was practically perfect. In 2006, Williams actually told Newsday that the sequel had been scrapped because the script just didn't work.
One early version of the plot involved Daniel Hillard moving near his daughter Lydia’s college to keep an eye on her. Honestly? That sounds a bit more like a stalker thriller than a family comedy. Williams knew it, too. He reportedly felt it was "too creepy" and didn't fit the heart of the original character.
Everything changed when David Berenbaum entered the picture. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he wrote Elf. He pitched an idea that finally clicked for both Columbus and Williams. While the exact plot was kept under wraps, Columbus later mentioned that they finally found a "really strong" story that made sense for a 21st-century audience.
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The Problem With the Suit
There was a catch, though. Robin Williams was in his early 60s by then. If you've ever seen the behind-the-scenes footage of the 1993 original, you know that the makeup process for Euphegenia Doubtfire was brutal. It took four hours every single day. It was hot. It was heavy. It was, as Williams put it to Columbus, like "running a marathon."
When they sat down to discuss the Mrs. Doubtfire 2 movie script in 2014, Williams had one major request: "Boss, do I have to be in the suit as much this time?"
He was physically drained. He was looking for a way to bring the character back without the grueling physical toll of the full prosthetic transformation. They were actually looking at ways to rewrite the script to minimize the time he spent in the "full Doubtfire" gear before he passed away in August 2014.
Who Was Actually Coming Back?
The cast was split on the idea. It's kinda fascinating to see who was "team sequel" and who was "team leave it alone."
- Matthew Lawrence (Chris): He was 100% on board. Even recently, he's mentioned how much he would have loved to work with Robin again.
- Mara Wilson (Natalie): She was the most vocal "no." On Twitter, she made it very clear that she had no interest in sequels. She felt that sequels usually "tarnish" the original and didn't see the point.
- Lisa Jakub (Lydia): She was more on the fence but leaned toward the idea that some things are better left as they are.
- Pierce Brosnan (Stu): He's always been a class act about the film, but his character’s role in a sequel would have been tricky to figure out given how the first one ended.
Why a Reboot Is "Impossible"
Ever since the project was officially canceled in 2014, fans have wondered if Disney (who now owns the rights via the Fox merger) would ever try to reboot it with a new actor. If you ask Chris Columbus, the answer is a hard no.
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He’s been incredibly vocal about this. In 2021, he told SF Gate that a sequel or reboot without Robin is "just impossible." He’s even seen the Broadway musical—which received great reviews—and while he praised the lead actor, he maintained that "Robin was one of a kind."
There is a protective wall around this IP. Columbus has essentially said he will be "very vocal" against any studio trying to recast the role. In an era where every single 90s hit is getting a "legacy sequel" or a gritty reboot, it’s rare to see a director stand his ground like that.
The Hidden R-Rated Cut
If you're looking for "new" Mrs. Doubtfire content, the Mrs. Doubtfire 2 movie isn't where you'll find it. The real treasure is in the vault.
Columbus revealed a few years ago that because Robin improvised so much—sometimes 22 takes of the same scene—there is enough footage to create an R-rated version of the original movie. Robin would go on these wild, late-night-comedy-club-style riffs that were way too dirty for a PG-13 family flick.
There are roughly 972 boxes of footage in a warehouse somewhere. Columbus has mentioned he’d love to make a documentary about the making of the film using this "lost" footage to show Robin's process. That is likely the only "new" project we will ever see.
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What This Means for Fans
If you see a poster on Facebook for Mrs. Doubtfire 2: The Grandchildren, it's fake. Total clickbait.
The project died with Robin Williams. While the David Berenbaum script exists somewhere in a filing cabinet at Disney, the chances of it seeing the light of day are zero. And honestly? That's probably for the best. The first film ended on such a poignant, perfect note about the reality of divorce and family. Trying to recapture that lightning in a bottle 30 years later usually ends in a puddle of "sequelitis."
Actionable Insights for Movie Lovers:
- Don't Fall for Fake Trailers: YouTube is full of "concept trailers" for a sequel that use AI or old footage. None of them are real.
- Watch the Broadway Cast: If you're desperate for a different take, look up clips of the Mrs. Doubtfire musical. It’s the only officially sanctioned reimagining of the story.
- Check Out "The Crazy Ones": If you want to see what Robin was working on right around the time the sequel was being discussed, watch his final TV series. It captures that same manic, fatherly energy.
- Wait for the Documentary: Keep an ear out for news from Chris Columbus. He’s still pushing for that documentary using the 2 million feet of film they shot in 1993. That’s the real "sequel" we deserve.
The story of the Mrs. Doubtfire 2 movie is a reminder that some movies are tied so closely to a specific human soul that you can't just "franchise" them. We have the 1993 classic, and in a world of endless reboots, maybe having just one perfect film is enough.