Tom Hanks is grateful that a sequel to “Forrest Gump” was never made. In a recent interview with The New York Times, he expressed his belief that the original 1994 film stands on its own and doesn’t need to be repeated.
“It is this extraordinary amalgam that stands completely on its own and never has to be repeated,” he said. “And thank God we never bothered trying to make another one. Why put a hat on a hat?”
In “Forrest Gump,” Hanks plays the title character, based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom. The movie follows the life of Forrest, an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who longs to reunite with his childhood sweetheart. It explores his experiences from the 1950s to the 1970s.
While a sequel was never made for the big screen, Groom did write a follow-up novel, “Gump & Co.,” in 1995. Hanks noted on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast in 2022 that there was a brief discussion about a sequel, but it only lasted about 40 minutes before they decided against it.
Hanks also shared how much the film still resonates with audiences. “I still get letters saying that every year, families get together and watch it like they did back in 1995,” he said. “Right now, someone is watching that movie from beginning to end somewhere in the world, and it brings them comfort and familiarity.”
Lim/SR