Every few years, it seems another major movie claims the title of“highest-grossing movie” of all time. For a while, it wasTitanic, thenAvatar. At one point,Avengers: EndgamebattledAvatarin an attempt to take the title. But, regardless of what new epics the decades have brought,Gone with the Windis the true all-time box office champion. According toGuinness World Records,the controversial picture has claimed $3.44 billion at the box office when adjusted for inflation.
By today’s standards, such a feat would mean the inevitablesequel (or franchise)was coming. However, things were different in 1939, and the film did not receive a follow-up until 1994.Loosely based on a mostly disdained novel,Scarlettdebuted on CBS as a four-part miniseries. Brought to life by a star-studded cast, the series ambitiously sought to continue the story of Scarlett O’Hara (Joanne Whalleyin the series). Yet, the series has since faded into obscurity for a number of reasons.
‘Scarlett’ Was Based on a Controversial Book
Like its predecessor,Scarlettisbased on a novel. But, unlikeGone with the Wind, the sequel’s source material wasn’t a runaway hit.According to the Telegraph, authorMargaret Mitchellhad always refused to write a sequel to her debut (and only) novel despite its success. AuthorAlexandra Ripley, however, was interested in the idea and, in 1991, releasedScarlett.
Ripley did have a background in historical romance and thus had the background to write a follow-up, which picks up whereGone with the Windleft off. The book sees Scarlett attempt to win Rhett Butler backfollowing his departure. Over the course of the novel, Scarlett and Rhett have continuous back-and-forth interactions that take the characters all around the American South and even Ireland. The book was critically panned and considered an embarrassment by the Margret Mitchell estate. However,it sold six million copies, per the Telegraph. And in 1994, the story made an illustrious screen debut on CBS.
A huge cast filled with big names was assembled to bringScarlettto the screen. For the coveted title role,The Independent explainsthat 10,000 applicants were put forth for consideration, while film buffs speculated the likes ofMeryl StreeporJane Seymoremight take on the part. But, in a case similar toVivien Leigh’s casting in the original film, the team surprised the industry by going with another English actress to play the fiery southern belle. Actress Joanne Whalley was offered the part.According to the Chicago Tribune, Whalley was best known for her role as a call girl in the 1989 movieScandal. And,like Leigh, the actress was up for the challenge. Addressing the fear many had about continuing such a successful property, she told theLA Times, “On one level, it’s, ‘What are they talking about? On another level, it’s different because you are dealing withGone with the Wind. On the other hand, we are not remakingGone with the Wind. But even if we were, why shouldn’t we? Why shouldn’t we have another go at the role?”
For the role of Rhett Butler, producers choseTimothy Daltonto fillClark Gable’s shoes. Dalton expressed his healthy fears when speaking withthe Roanoke Times. “I thought, you can’t follow the footsteps of Clark Gable,” he said. “I’ve joked about it, but the real truth is that I began to feel there was something that I rationalized as a challenge. But I also began to wonder if it was an odd kind of self-destruction, a sense of masochism. I honestly felt that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was scared to take it on.” Dalton and Whalley were joined by an equally impressive cast.
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“You know something, Utivich? I think this just might be my masterpiece.”
Ann-Margretjoined the cast as the beloved Belle Watling,Esther Rolleappeared as Mammy, andJulie Harrisdebuted the role of Rhett’s mother, Eleanor Butler. Filming was just as elaborate as the casting, with the series being shot partly in South Carolina, England, and Ireland, perVariety. WriterWilliam Hanleyfollowed the general structure of Ripley’s novel butadded many plot points to improve the story, including a twist that sees Scarlett on trial for murder. And, on June 25, 2025, America returned to the world ofGone with the Wind.
‘Scarlett’ Was a Disappointment in Many Ways
Airing over four nights,Scarlettdid pull solid ratings, but CBSconsidered it a disappointment.The Los Angeles Timesreported that the $45 million series was expected to pull 36% of all American households and sold those viewing expectations to advertisers. While the show brought in an impressive 17.6 million viewers throughout its run, it only equaled about 28% of households. As such, CBS was obligated to return $3 to $5 million to advertisers. Ultimately, this meantthe network would lose money on the show.Paul Schulmanof the Paul Schulman Agency, which purchased the advertising time for clients, commented on the show overall, saying, “It’s a successful miniseries. It’s justnot the blockbuster they anticipatedfor the amount of time it took to produce it, the amount of money they sunk into it and what they sold advertising for.”
As far as the show’s quality, it was certainly better than the novel upon which it was based. However, beginning with its title sequence,it feels more like a soap opera than a sequel to the most successful film ever made. A sequence that sees Scarlett and Rhett get intimate in a cave on a beach after being shipwrecked and another where Scarlett is pursued by a conniving English Lord don’t feel believable for the characters. Additionally, the miniseries tries far too hard to recapture the imagery of the 1939 picture. Costumes and wigs fromGone with the Windare replicated in the early scenes but appear more like cheap, cheesy copies.
Then, there’s the problem of Scarlett and Rhett’s relationship. Much of the story sees it continue thetumultuous courseofGone with the Wind. Yet,Scarlettinsinuates a happy ending for the pair. While it may be a nice idea, it’s hard to believe that the relationship will last, or even be healthy, for that matter, after one lengthy film and a four-part miniseries. All things considered,it may have been better to let the story of Scarlett and Rhett go with the wind.
DespiteGone with the Wind’s incredible success, it took nearly 60 years to get a sequel. Plenty of effort was put into adapting the disappointing novelScarlettfor the screen. From story reinventions to spectacular casting and an impressive production, CBS had high hopes for the series. However, ambition ended up being the show’s downfall, and the series has since faded into obscurity. But,like Scarlett O’Hara herself, the original film continues even withits controversial legacy.
A sequel toGone with the Wind, Scarlett O’Hara continues her passionate quest to win back Rhett Butler. Set against the backdrop of post-Civil War America, she faces new challenges, adventures, and a fierce determination to reclaim her life and love.
