For decades, audiences have cherished the widely acclaimed comedy film Mrs. Doubtfire since its release in 1993. Thanks to its heartfelt blend of humor, emotion, and exceptional performances from the likes of Robin Williams the movie excelled at captivating viewers. But while the film remains a beloved classic that resonates with audiences of all ages, it wasn’t easy to make.
Recalling Robin Williams’s transformative role as Mrs. Doubtfire, who added depth to the film’s exploration of family dynamics, Harry Potter filmmaker Chris Columbus opened up about his experience working with the late star. Addressing that while Williams offered few of the most poignant moments and laugh-out-loud scenes in the film, he often deviated from the script to improvise.
Harry Potter Director Shared Insights into Robin Williams’s Unique Approach to Acting
On the 30th anniversary of the beloved comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, in 2023, director Chris Columbus opened up about his experience working with the titular star Robin Williams. Speaking with Business Insider, Columbus, renowned for his work on the first two Harry Potter films, shared insights into Williams’s unique approach to acting on the set of the $441M blockbuster (via The Numbers).
Recounting the dynamic between him and Robin Williams, Chris Columbus revealed how the actor’s improvisational style transformed the filmmaking process. Reflecting on the late actor’s penchant for deviating from the script to do his own thing, Columbus explained how Williams’ improvisational flair was truly exceptional. However, despite appreciating the actor’s legendary skill, Columbus admitted that it was difficult for them to keep up.
We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture. Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play. Robin would change every take. So Robin would go to a place where he couldn’t remember much of what he said. We would go to the script supervisor and ask her and sometimes she didn’t even get it all.
Often, he would literally give us a completely different take than what we did doing the written takes. It got to the point that I had to shoot the entire movie with four cameras to keep up with him. None of us knew what he was going to say when he got going and so I wanted a camera on the other actors to get their reactions. For Pierce Brosnan and Sally Field, it was quite difficult for them not to break character.
Apart from the fact that Robin Williams’ penchant for improvisation led to several retakes and the loss of film, Chris Columbus also noted how difficult it became for everyone to keep up with the actor’s spontaneity. Changing the dialogues and scenes constantly, often led to Williams’ co-stars as well as the script supervisor forgetting the continuity and the storyline. So it seems, the legendary comedian was indeed a menace on set to work with.
Mrs. Doubtfire 2 Never Happened but Chris Columbus Wishes to Make a Documentary
However, despite Robin Williams’ spontaneous creativity that often resulted in completely unexpected performances, leading Chris Columbus to employ a multi-camera setup to capture the full range of the actor’s improvisation, the director reflected on the late actor’s performance with great respect and appreciation. Although it was challenging for him to maintain composure amidst Williams’s relentless creativity, Columbus later noted how he still wanted to collaborate with the star in the sequel.
Well, not just Chris Columbus, even the Dead Poets Society actor was interested in doing a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire. Therefore, touching on the much-anticipated sequel to the 1993 movie, which, despite its potential, unfortunately never came to fruition, Columbus recalled the conversation he had with the late actor. Recalling that they had an in-development script that was looking good, the filmmaker revealed Williams’ humorous response.
Back then, there was an attitude that sequels were looked down upon by the artists. So Robin was against doing a sequel immediately after. He and I didn’t talk about a sequel until the year he passed away. 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’s only comment was, “Boss, do I have to be in the suit as much this time?”
It was physically demanding. For Robin, I think it was like running a marathon every day he was in the Doubtfire costume. He was older, obviously. So we talked about it and I think he was hoping in the rewrite we would cut back on the Doubtfire character. But then Robin passed away so there will never be a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire.
Unfortunately, work commitments, conflicting work schedules, as well as Robin Williams’ depression made the once-promising prospects of Mrs. Doubtfire 2 a pipe dream. But worry not, for the original film’s legacy transcends boundaries. Meanwhile, although Chris Columbus lost the opportunity to direct a sequel to his 1993 movie, he opened up on his desire to direct a documentary, showcasing Williams’ improvisation, and the process of creating the iconic movie.
Mrs. Doubtfire is available on Disney+ as of 2023.
