Director Chris Columbus, known for his work on the iconic film Mrs. Doubtfire, has revealed a treasure trove of unseen footage featuring the legendary Robin Williams. The director, who initially never intended to accumulate such an immense amount of material, now envisions using the two million feet of footage for a documentary, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ improvisational genius.
Columbus recounted how Williams, known for his unorthodox approach to comedy, proposed a unique working method. “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,’” Columbus shared. This led to a filmmaking process where scripted takes were followed by Williams’ improvisation, resulting in an unpredictable and diverse array of footage.
The director emphasized the challenge of capturing Williams’ spontaneous moments, revealing that every take was markedly different due to the actor’s penchant for improvisation. Such was the unpredictability that the script supervisor abandoned attempts to keep track, and Williams could continue improvising until the film ran out. Columbus mused that in today’s digital era, the filming process would seemingly never conclude.
To cope with the unpredictability, Columbus opted to shoot Mrs. Doubtfire with four cameras simultaneously. This allowed him to capture not only Williams’ performance but also the reactions of other actors, notably Pierce Brosnan and Sally Field, who found it challenging to remain in character amid Williams’ comedic genius.
Despite Williams rejecting the idea of a sequel in the 1990s, Columbus revealed that the actor had started contemplating it in the years leading up to his tragic death. Williams’ only condition was a hope to minimize the use of the heavy prosthetic suit. With a sequel no longer a possibility, Columbus has turned his attention to the wealth of footage at his disposal.
The director envisions a documentary that goes beyond mere outtakes, delving into the unique process of Robin Williams. The footage spans not only comedic outtakes but also includes behind-the-scenes moments with the cast. Columbus expressed a desire to hire an editor to sift through the 972 boxes of material, emphasizing the aim to showcase Williams’ creative process, describing it as “special and magical.”
While firmly against the idea of a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel without Williams, Columbus enthusiastically supports the notion of a documentary or docuseries exploring the comedic legacy left by the late actor. He believes it would be a fitting tribute to Williams’ unparalleled and relentless filmmaking style, showcasing the untapped wealth of material that captures the essence of a comedic genius at work.
