Mrs. DoubtfireDirector Says He Met with Robin Williams to Discuss 'Really Strong' Sequel Before His Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty; 20th Century-Fox/Getty

Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty; 20th Century-Fox/Getty

There’s only oneMrs. Doubtfireindirector Chris Columbus' eyes.

“He and I didn’t talk about a sequel until the year he passed away,” he said of the Oscar winner. “We had a script that was written and it was the last time I saw Robin. I went to his house and we sat down and talked about it and the script was really strong.”

Robin Williams brooms in a scene from the film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, 1993.20th Century-Fox/Getty

20th Century-Fox/Getty

He said he recalled WIlliams asking him if he “had to be in the suit as much this time” because the role of Mrs. Doubtfire was “physically demanding” and it was like “running a marathon” “every day he was in the Doubtfire costume.”

“So we talked about it and I think he was hoping in the rewrite we would cut back on the Doubtfire character,” Columbus explained. “But then Robin passed away so there will never be a sequel toMrs. Doubtfire."

He told Business Insider that he believed that “Fox/Disney owns the rights” and they can “do whatever they want” with the property ofMrs. Doubtfire. Though, he noted, “Should they? God no.”

“I will certainly be very vocal about it if they decide to do it,” he added.

Film Still from Mrs. Doubtfire Matthew Lawrence, Lisa Jakub, Robin Williams, Mara Wilson, Sally Field.Phil Bray/20th Century Fox Photo

Phil Bray/20th Century Fox Photo

Columbus previously echoed similar sentiments while speaking toSF Gateat the SF Film Awards in 2021, saying that it would be “impossible” for anyone to play one of Williams' most iconic roles of his career.

“I just was reading a lot of reviews, ironically, today and about the Broadway show [which opened in New York this week]. And this guy who’s playing him [Rob McClure] is supposedly very energetic and phenomenal,” Columbus told the outlet. “But he’s noRobin. Robin was one-of-a-kind.”

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Columbus also recalled to Business Insider that he “had to shoot the entire movie with four cameras to keep up” with Williams who would often go off-script with new gags while filming. He added that they might turn the footage into a documentary.

source: people.com