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The Flintstones star John Goodman had a message for producer Steven Spielberg: “Yabba Dabba, don’t do that!”

The Flintstones star John Goodman had a message for producer Steven Spielberg: “Yabba Dabba, don’t do that!”

Director Brian Levant reveals in a new interview that John Goodman did not want to reprise his role as Fred Flintstone in a sequel to the 1994 film, The Flintstones.

In an interview with Total MovieLevant said, Goodman went so far as to go to film producer Steven Spielberg, asking him for a solution. Goodman starred as Fred alongside Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O’Donnell, Kyle MacLachlan and Halle Berry in the live-action film of the modern Stone Age family.

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After going through a difficult experience throughout filming, Goodman spoke with Spielberg, asking him to escape production of a sequel that was in discussions.

Levant said the plan was to do the same with The Flintstones what they did with Back to the future and shoot the two films back to back. But Goodman made an appointment with Spielberg and said, “Please don’t make me do this anymore.”

Goodman did not want to be associated with a character he did not like for the rest of his career. However, he felt pressured when the director revealed his intention to cast him in a table read for the 1989 film. Always.

Ultimately, Goodman and all but one of the original cast members would decline to return for the next installment in the franchise.

The plan was to follow up with The Flintstones at Viva Rock Vegasto be published in 2000. The Complete MontyMark Addy and Stephen Baldwin played younger versions of Fred and Barney as they search for love and avoid the alien The Great Gazoo (Alan Cumming).

The film was budgeted at $83 million, but grossed $23.6 million less than that. The Flintstones has not had a theatrical release since.

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