Over the past 70 years, there have been many attempts at creating a sequel to the beloved classic Casablanca, including a few ill-fated forays into television.
According to the New York Post, a proposed sequel from the 1980s from Casablanca's original screenwriter, Howard Koch, finds the story taking place twenty years after the events of the first film, where a child conceived from Rick and Ilsa's renewed affair named Richard, would travel to the Middle East to learn more about his father.
Richard "grew up to be a handsome, tough-tender young man reminiscent of his father. He had been told the truth about his origin and has a deep desire to find his real father, since Rick's heroic actions in Casablanca have become legendary."
The biggest obstacle facing this proposed sequel is finding a twenty-something actor who could portray the Richard role. As the Post points out, "There really are not many solid 20-year-old actors. Certainly not Robert Pattinson, though maybe that guy who's popping up everywhere, Joseph Gordon-Levitt."
Stephen, Humphrey Bogart's son with Lauren Bacall, isn't quite receptive to the idea of the sequel. "If they want to make a movie about intrigue in North Africa, that's fine, but bringing the specter of one of the greatest movies of all time into it makes it just another feeble attempt at Casablanca 2. There are certain films, like Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and of course, Casablanca that need to stay as pristine and prefect as they are."
How about you? Are you open to the idea of a sequel to Casablanca? Who would you cast in the lead role of Richard?
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