20 Classic Films That Could Be Rebooted with Female Leads
By Carly Lane
10. It’s a Wonderful Life, with Renée Elise Goldsberry
Goldsberry has had a long career already – primarily on Broadway and in television, although most audiences likely know her from her role as Angelica Schuyler in the production of Hamilton, for which she earned a Tony. While Goldsberry is still technically tied up in Hamilton (she’s supposedly leaving soon to work on a Netflix production), there’s no reason why she couldn’t take a break in order to bring a classic film character to life – namely, the female version of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, played by Jimmy Stewart in the 1946 film directed by Frank Capra.
It’s a Wonderful Life has been reimagined several times already, but future plans to make a reboot haven’t happened yet. Despite this, the characters of Angelica Schuyler and George Bailey both have a lot in common – the thread that they both follow is their selflessness. Angelica and George sacrifice their own dreams to make it possible for their loved ones to get what they want, even if it means the cost of their own happiness or long-term plans. Goldsberry could draw on that, of course, when bringing her version of George Bailey to life – and wouldn’t we all like to see her courting Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Mary with the moon?
Next: Top Gun