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Jessica Rabbit no damsel in distress after Disney gives her a modern makeover

Watch: Jessica Rabbit shedding sex symbol status at Disneyland’s Roger Rabbit ride

Jessica Rabbit is no longer a victim after Disney gave its Roger Rabbit theme park ride a revamp.

The cartoon character – the seductive wife of Roger Rabbit – has been removed from the opening scene of the Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin ride at Disneyland in California, where she previously appeared trapped in the trunk of a car.

But Jessica Rabbit – originally voiced by Kathleen Turner in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbitis no longer painted as a damsel in distress, instead finding a new role as the boss of her own private detective agency.

Jessica Rabbit no loner appears trapped in a car at the start of the ride. (Disney)
Jessica Rabbit no longer appears trapped in a car at the start of the ride. (Disney)

Disneyland News Today announced recently that following refurbishment Jessica Rabbit had been removed from the car trunk scene at the start of the ride and replaced with barrels of the film's infamous cartoon-destroying "dip".

Read more: Don't hold your breath for a Roger Rabbit sequel, says Robert Zemeckis

The original description of the ride when it launched in 1994 said: "The attraction revisits the story of Roger Rabbit as he attempts to rescue his beloved wife Jessica Rabbit from the evil henchmen known as the Weasels."

But the new twist sees Jessica becoming a detective herself, and she has been quoted as saying: "Enough is enough. The good toons of our neighbourhoods are afraid to come out at night, and it is getting worse by the day! Those Weasels are up to something big... I am going to find out what it is, and put a stop to it!"

Bob Hoskins is seduced by Jessica Rabbit in a scene from the film 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', 1988. (Photo by Buena Vista/Getty Images)
Bob Hoskins and Jessica Rabbit in 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. (Getty Images)
Jessica Rabbit is fighting back. (Disney)
Jessica Rabbit is fighting back. (Disney)

New images show her wielding a mallet over a weasel as she fights back herself.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit, directed by Robert Zemeckis and set in 1940s Hollywood, is a blend of live action with cartoon starring Bob Hoskins as private detective Eddie Valiant, who is asked by Roger Rabbit to help prove his innocence after the animated character is wrongly accused of murder in Toon Town.

Kathleen Turner, Roger Zemeckis and guest during
Kathleen Turner (left) with Roger Zemeckis, director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. (Getty Images)

It is not the first Disney theme park ride to have been updated.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean ride replaced the Wench Auction section, which advertised "Take a Wench for a Bride", to one with a sign that reads "Auction, Surrender Yer Loot".

Disneyland Resort spokeswoman for Suzi Brown said of the change in 2017: "We believe the time is right to turn the page to a new story in this scene consistent with the humorous, adventurous spirit of the attraction."

Read more: Kathleen Turner recalls her role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit

And earlier this year Disneyland announced plans to update the Splash Mountain ride by replacing characters from 1946 animation Song Of The South – which has been criticised for its offensive stereotypes of African Americans – with ones from 2009's The Princess And The Frog.

Watch: Jessica Rabbit has her own makeup line