In a recent interview with Total Film, director Brian Levant disclosed that John Goodman declined to reprise his role as Fred Flintstone in a sequel to the 1994 film, The Flintstones. Levant revealed that Goodman, who starred alongside Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O’Donnell, Kyle MacLachlan, and Halle Berry in the live-action adaptation of the iconic animated series, expressed a strong aversion to returning for a sequel.
According to Levant, Goodman approached film producer Steven Spielberg, pleading for a way out of the potential sequel. The initial plan was to emulate the success of Back to the Future by shooting back-to-back sequels. However, Goodman expressed his reluctance during a meeting with Spielberg, asking to be spared from further involvement in the franchise.
Goodman’s reluctance stemmed from a challenging experience during the filming of the original movie. He feared being typecast and associated with a character he didn’t enjoy portraying for the remainder of his career. Despite his reservations, Goodman felt pressured when Levant suggested casting him in a table read for the 1989 film Always.
Ultimately, Goodman, along with nearly all of the original cast, declined to return for the proposed sequel. The follow-up film, titled The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas and released in 2000, featured Mark Addy and Stephen Baldwin as younger versions of Fred and Barney, respectively. The plot revolved around their pursuit of love and encounters with an alien character, The Great Gazoo, portrayed by Alan Cumming.
Despite an $83 million budget, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas fell short of box office expectations, failing to recoup $23.6 million of its production costs. Consequently, the franchise has not seen a theatrical feature since.