It’s official, nothing is sacred.  Quite possibly the most unnecessary sequel in the history of unnecessary sequels in development, as a follow-up to Frank Capra’s classic 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life is in the works by producers Allen J. Schwalb of Star Partners and Bob Farnsworth of Hummingbird.  Farnsowth and Martha Bolton have already written the screenplay, which revolves around George Bailey’s grandson being visited by an angel.  Karolyn Grimes, who played Jimmy Stewart’s daughter Zuzu in the original, has apparently agreed to return to play the angel in the proposed sequel.  The producers are currently on the hunt for a director (good luck), and plan to begin filming in Louisiana next year in anticipation of a hoped-for holiday 2015 release date.  Hit the jump for more.

[Update: The New York Post has a good rundown of why the odds of this sequel ever making it to production are highly unlikely, given that the film's copyright is currently entangled in a pretty hefty (and expensive) web.]

Per Variety, the budget for the film is said to be in the $25 million to $35 million range, and the producers are apparently seeking out other original castmembers like Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey) and Carol Coombs (Janie Bailey) to reprise their roles as well. Seeing as how Schwalb and Farnsworth appear to have minimal credits on IMDb, I don’t see this sequel making any kind of significant splash should it actually move into production.

Still, the idea of tarnishing Capra’s masterful original film is downright befuddling.  Should we expect a Citizen Kane sequel or a Casablanca reboot next?  How about we go ahead and greenlight a hip and sexy TV series based on The Apartment while we’re at it.

Relive the beauty of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life below.

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