Director Brian Levant who in addition to The Flintstones has helmed such features as Jingle All The Way and Beethoven, fondly remembers watching the premiere episode of The Flintstones on September 17, 1960.
"I like things that create happiness and there is nothing, in my mind, that makes you smile as much as the imagery and the creativity of The Flintstones," says Levant.
He was thrilled to have the chance to creatively reinvigorate the franchise based on one of the longest running animated TV shows in broadcast history, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary (Y2KBC) and continues to air weekly on the Cartoon Network.
"I loved filming the first one," Levant says. "It was one of the best experiences of my life."
The original movie The Flintstones was released in 1994 and grossed more than $350 million at the box office worldwide, re-introducing a whole new legion of fans to this modern Stone Age family.
Producer Bruce Cohen, who produced The Flintstones as well as one of 1999's most critically-acclaimed hits, the multiple Academy Award®-winning American Beauty, was thrilled to have Levant back at the helm.
"Brian is 'Mr. Flintstone,' and knows more about the lore of Bedrock and the TV show than anyone alive today. He has one of the largest personal collections (over 1,000 items) of Flintstones memorabilia and toys," says Cohen.
"We had alot more freedom to break out of the box and do something fresh for the second film," he says. "Brian actually thought it would be great to show them meeting for the first time.. .to go back to Fred and Barney, the oldest of pals since time began, and have them meet Wilma and Betty for the first time. We had the makings of a true romantic comedy."
Before Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm were even a glimmer in the Flintstone's or the Rubbles' eyes. Before Wilma wore her signature pearls. Before Fred even had a reason to say "Yabba-Dabba-Doo."
It was Levant's idea to set the prequel for The Flintstones in and around Rock Vegas. In fact, it was while editing the first film that he came up with the idea of setting this one in Rock Vegas.
"Rock Vegas has a huge place in Bedrock lore," Cohen says. "That was a place they talked about often in the original television series, and they'd go there and Ann-Margrock and Stoney Curtis would be there. It's something everyone remembers from the first one. Also the timing is perfect with the explosion of Las Vegas and all its new hotels and the
To keep with the series' original spirit, Ann-Margret, who voiced the original character of Ann-Margrock in the television series, recorded the song "Viva Rock Vegas" in the film, an homage to her starring role opposite Elvis Presley in the feature film Viva Las Vegas.
Two of television's brightest actresses also liked the look and feel that the film took on. For Kristen Johnston, who is best known to television audiences for her two- time Emmy Award- winning role on 3rd Rock From The Sun and also starred in last summer's blockbuster hit Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, it was the part of a young Wilma Slaghoople which caught her eye.
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