It’s A Wonderful Life Remake: Confirmation & Everything We Know

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Kenya Barris is slated to remake the beloved Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life with a modern and inclusive spin. The original 1946 film starred Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who contemplates ending his life during Christmastime. However, a group of angels show Bailey how important he is to his community and those he loves. Frank Capra’s touching Hollywood gem is often cited as one of the greatest American films ever, though it famously lost the Best Picture Oscar to the oft-forgotten post-war hit, The Best Years of Our Lives.

Like many movies from Old Hollywood, It’s a Wonderful Life has become something of an archetypal story, with many other forms of media aping the framework of the film. Additionally, It’s a Wonderful Life has also been remade and adapted on multiple occasions, with some aiming to modernize the tale, while others turn it into farce, such as the 2023 horror parody It’s a Wonderful Knife. Now, Kenya Barris is the latest in a long line of filmmakers aiming to put their own unique touch on Frank Capra’s classic.

The It’s A Wonderful Life Remake Is Confirmed

Though little fanfare or speculation surrounded the announcement, it was confirmed in January 2024 that Kenya Barris is remaking It’s a Wonderful Life. The Black-ish creator made the announcement while promoting his biopic series about comedian Richard Pryor, and revealed the project alongside his planned remake of The Wizard of Oz. While little is known about the remake at this juncture, it can be assumed that Barris will direct the film, though no other cast or crew information has been released. On top of that, Barris didn’t offer any clues about the movie’s timeline or when it will be released.

Who Is Making The It’s A Wonderful Life Remake?

With a proven track record of success, Kenya Barris will helm the remake of It’s a Wonderful Life and the film will be made in conjunction with Paramount Pictures. Barris might not be a household name, but he is best known for creating the hit series Black-ish, and has written for shows like Girlfriends and movies like Coming 2 America and the 2022 remake of Cheaper by the Dozen.

While little is known about Barris’ It’s a Wonderful Life, he did speak at length about the project when promoting his Richard Pryor biopic series in early 2024. Defending his use of intellectual property, Barris said “I’m still a believer in IP… having the opportunity to take some of those IPs and tell them from a different point of view is a gift“. He has made it clear he plans to make the exclusively-white original story more inclusive and modern, something no other remake has attempted thus far.

The It’s A Wonderful Life Remake Story

No one involved with the remake has revealed a synopsis yet, but it can be inferred from statements from Kenya Barris that it will follow the same general structure as the original. Barris has mentioned wanting to take the original George Bailey story and recontextualize it within the Black community, and it won’t take much adjustment to make Bailey’s struggle conform to modern-day issues. It’s a Wonderful Life has remained such a classic because its story is so universal, so little change to the overall narrative is expected.