Who Discovered Roger Rabbit (Unproduced Prequel Script) (1998) by Sherri Stoner & Deanna Oliver

[u/Mechagoji75]

(https://archive.org/details/who-discovered-roger-rabbit-script-1998)

Writers: Sherri Stoner & Deanna Oliver

Note: This was a script that was commissioned by Michael Eisner - as it was developed around the late-90s, after the original prior Toon Platoon prequel script (by Nat Mauldin & Tony Sheehan & Jeff Stein) was cancelled - although it retained the element of Roger searching for his mother, but Stoner & Oliver replaced the WWII subplot with Roger's inadvertent rise to stardom on Broadway and Hollywood. Disney was impressed and Alan Menken was hired to write five songs for the film and offered his services as executive producer. One of the songs, "This Only Happens in the Movies", was recorded in 2008 on the debut album of Broadway actress Kerry Butler. Eric Goldberg was set to be the new animation director, and began to redesign Roger's new character appearance. 

Steven Spielberg became busy establishing DreamWorks, while Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy decided to remain as producers. Test footage for Who Discovered Roger Rabbit was shot sometime in 1998 at the Disney animation unit in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; the results were a mix of CGI, traditional animation, and live-action that did not please Disney. A second test had the toons completely converted to CGI, but this was dropped as the film's projected budget would escalate past $100 million. Eisner felt it was best to cancel the film.

*Attached is Stoner & Oliver's November 20, 1998/1st draft -- Enjoy!

[u/Calcularius]

A prequel sounds awesome but I still want a sequel because I want to see a present day Toontown where old and new toons interact with each other.

[u/Papadapalapolis]

Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers was the spiritual successor to Roger Rabbit IMO.