Three TV movie sequels were made—the first independently, the other two by MCA/
Universal Television.
In a 1978 made-for-television movie,
Rescue from Gilligan's Island, the castaways successfully leave the island but have difficulty reintegrating into society. During a reunion cruise on the first Christmas after their rescue, fate intervenes and they find themselves wrecked on the same island at the end of the film. It starred the original cast, except for Tina Louise, who refused to participate because of her disputes with the producers and who was replaced by
Judith Baldwin. The plot involved Soviet agents seeking a memory disc from a spy satellite that landed on the island and facilitated their rescue.
In a 1979 sequel,
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, they are rescued once again, and the Howells convert the island into a getaway resort with the other five castaways as "silent partners". Ginger was again played by Judith Baldwin.
In a second sequel,
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981), villains played by
Martin Landau and then-wife
Barbara Bain try to take over the island to gain access to a vein of "supremium", a valuable but volatile
fictional element. This time, Ginger was played by
Constance Forslund. They are thwarted by the timely intervention of the
Harlem Globetrotters.
Jim Backus, who was in poor health at the time, was written out of the script by saying Thurston Howell III was tending to Howell Industries back on the mainland.
David Ruprecht played the role of his son, Thurston Howell IV, who was asked to manage the resort. However, Backus insisted on keeping continuity, and made a cameo appearance at the end of the film.
You've got three opportunities to see post-island life
Gilligan's Island Film sequels
Three TV movie sequels were made—the first independently, the other two by MCA/
Universal Television.
In a 1978 made-for-television movie,
Rescue from Gilligan's Island, the castaways successfully leave the island but have difficulty reintegrating into society. During a reunion cruise on the first Christmas after their rescue, fate intervenes and they find themselves wrecked on the same island at the end of the film. It starred the original cast, except for Tina Louise, who refused to participate because of her disputes with the producers and who was replaced by
Judith Baldwin. The plot involved Soviet agents seeking a memory disc from a spy satellite that landed on the island and facilitated their rescue.
In a 1979 sequel,
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, they are rescued once again, and the Howells convert the island into a getaway resort with the other five castaways as "silent partners". Ginger was again played by Judith Baldwin.
In a second sequel,
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981), villains played by
Martin Landau and then-wife
Barbara Bain try to take over the island to gain access to a vein of "supremium", a valuable but volatile
fictional element. This time, Ginger was played by
Constance Forslund. They are thwarted by the timely intervention of the
Harlem Globetrotters.
Jim Backus, who was in poor health at the time, was written out of the script by saying Thurston Howell III was tending to Howell Industries back on the mainland.
David Ruprecht played the role of his son, Thurston Howell IV, who was asked to manage the resort. However, Backus insisted on keeping continuity, and made a cameo appearance at the end of the film.
