Kathryn Bigelow's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:25, 12 January 2025

Latest revision as of 16:26, 19 June 2025

(9 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|none}}

[[File:Kathryn Bigelow at 2010 Oscars.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bigelow attending the [[82nd Academy Awards|82nd annual Academy Awards ceremony]] in 2010]]

The following is '''a list of unproduced Kathryn Bigelow projects''' in roughly chronological order. During her long career, film director [[Kathryn Bigelow]] has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under her direction. Some of these projects fell in [[development hell]], were officially cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

==1980s==

Line 13:

===''The Company of Angels''===

On October 6, 1992, Bigelow was attached to direct and produce the period piece ''The Company of Angels'' through [[Carolco]] and [[Lightstorm Entertainment]], with [[Winona Ryder]] officially attached to portray [[Joan of Arc]] and [[Warner Bros.]] distributing.<ref>{{cite web|first=Claudia|last=Eller|title=WB, Hughes tune up for ‘Pajama Game’ remake|url=https://variety.com/1992/more/news/wb-hughes-tune-up-for-pajama-game-remake-100240/|date=October 6, 1992|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> However, the project entered into [[development hell]] and [[Luc Besson]] used this movie's funds to make ''[[The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc]]'' instead.<ref>{{cite web|first=Zack|last=Sharf|title=The Lost Projects: 15 Movies Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and More Auteurs Never Made|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/07/quentin-tarantino-christopher-nolan-david-lycnh-lost-movies-never-made-1201860940/|date=July 28, 2017|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>

===''Burning Chrome''===

[[Science fiction|Sci-fi]] author [[William Gibson]] wrote a screenplay for a film adaptation of his 1982 short story "[[Burning Chrome]]" to be directed by Bigelow, but the project did not reach fruition. Gibson claimed that it was "developed to death" and "getting more and more frustrating" to make as a film.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Gibson|first=William|interviewer=Giuseppe Salza|___location=Cannes|date=May 1994|title=William Gibson Interviewed by Giuseppe Salza|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/235|access-date=October 28, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011104756/http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/235|archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> Bigelow's then-spouse [[James Cameron]] was also involved with the project.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/read-james-camerons-sworn-declaration-avatar-399979/ Read James Cameron’s Sworn Declaration on How He Created ‘Avatar’ (Exclusive)]</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/20th-century-fox-james-cameron-ordered-share-financials-avatar-idea-theft-lawsuit-399835/ Fox, James Cameron Ordered to Share Secret ‘Avatar’ Financials in Idea Theft Lawsuit]</ref> It is believed that Bigelow agreed to direct ''[[Strange Days (film)|Strange Days]]'' in place of ''Burning Chrome'', instead.

===''Custer Marching to Valhalla''===

On November 5, 1997, it was reported that Bigelow was signed by [[New Line Cinema]] as the director of ''Custer Marching to Valhalla'', an epic based on [[Michael Blake (author)|Michael Blake]]'s novel about the rise and fall of General [[George Armstrong Custer]]. Blake would have developed and written the screenplay for Bigelow to direct.<ref name="Custer">{{cite magazine|last=Cox|first=Dan|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/bigelow-pulls-custer-duty-111660810/amp/|title=Bigelow pulls 'Custer' duty|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 5, 1997|access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref>

===''Ohio''===

In the late 1990s, Bigelow developed a project for [[Universal Pictures]] titled ''Ohio'' about the [[Kent State shootings|1970 Kent State shooting]] and the killings of four students.<ref name="Custer"/> Kent State alumialumni Jim Hart, who witnessed the event take place, wrote the script and stated that the film would "be [his] generation's ''[[The Best Years of Our Lives|Best Years of Our Lives]]''." Attached to produce were Tony Lord, Matthew Weaver, [[John Davis (producer)|John Davis]], andas well as Hart and his partner Valerie Kerns.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Archerd, Army|author-link=Army Archerd|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/beatty-to-campaign-for-dems-in-future-1117863251/|title=Beatty to campaign for Dems in future|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 6, 1998|access-date=January 7, 2025}}</ref>

==2000s==

===''Paycheck''===

{{Main|Paycheck (film)}}

In the early 2000s, Bigelow considered directing the film ''[[Paycheck (film)|Paycheck]]'' based on the [[Paycheck (novelette)|1953 short story]] by [[Philip K. Dick]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Fleming, Michael|author2=Dunkley, Cathy|author1-link=|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/paramount-takes-look-at-bigelow-1117872728/|title=Paramount takes look at Bigelow|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 12, 2002|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=McNary|first=Dave|author-link=Dave McNary|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/woo-eyes-par-paycheck-1117874714/|title=Woo eyes Par 'Paycheck'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 21, 2002|access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref>

===''The Devil in the White City''===

On April 8, 2003, it was announced that Bigelow would direct and produce the film adaptation of [[Erik Larson (author)|Erik Larson]]'s novel ''[[The Devil in the White City]]'' with [[Tom Cruise]] as [[H. H. Holmes]] for [[Paramount Pictures]], howeverand this[[Cruise/Wagner attempt fell throughProductions]].<ref>{{cite newsmagazine|first1author1=Bing, Jonathan|last1author2=BingMcNary, Dave|author2-link=[[Dave McNary]]|title=All’sAll's fair in race to make killer bios|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/all-s-fair-in-race-to-make-killer-bios-1117884351/|date=April 8, 2003|websitemagazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Staff and Agencies|title=Cruise and DiCaprio chase same killer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/apr/10/news.tomcruise|date=April 10, 2003|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> However, insiders claimed the project stalled over creative differences between Bigelow and Cruise/Wagner.<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=McClintock, Pamela|author2=McNary, Dave|author2-link=Dave McNary|title=Paramount revisits 'White City'|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/paramount-revisits-white-city-1117958726/|date=February 5, 2007|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>

===''The Inside'' TV pilot===

Line 34 ⟶ 37:

===''Triple Frontier''===

{{Main|Triple Frontier (film)}}

On August 9, 2009, Bigelow was interested in directing [[Mark Boal]]'s action thriller script ''Triple Frontier'', an ensemble project based on an idea Bigelow and Boal had, with [[Charles Roven]], [[Alex Gartner]] and Steve Alexander attached to produce through [[Atlas Entertainment]] for [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Dave|last=McNary|author-link=Dave McNary|title=Bigelow, Boal reteam for ‘Frontier’'Frontier'|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/bigelow-boal-reteam-for-frontier-1118007072/|date=August 9, 2009|website=Variety|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> [[Tom Hanks]] and [[Johnny Depp]] entered talks for the project in October 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2010/10/tom-hanks-mulls-taking-south-american-trip-with-kathryn-bigelow-for-triple-frontier-72848/|title=Tom Hanks Mulls Kathryn Bigelow Pic Offer|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2010-10-06|work=Deadline|access-date=June 21, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2010/10/johnny-depp-in-triple-frontier-talks-with-paramount-pictures-and-kathryn-bigelow-73159/|title=Johnny Depp In 'Triple Frontier' Talks With Paramount Pictures And Kathryn Bigelow|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2010-10-06|work=Deadline|access-date=June 21, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> Bigelow eventually departed the film, with [[J. C. Chandor]] closing a deal to replace her as director in September 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2015/09/jc-chandor-triple-frontier-director-mark-boal-1201562142/|title=J.C. Chandor Closes Deal To Direct 'Triple Frontier' At Paramount|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2015-10-01|work=Deadline|access-date=June 21, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref>[[Triple Frontier (film)|The film]] would eventually be released on [[Netflix]] on March 13, 2019.

==2010s==

Line 41 ⟶ 44:

===''The Miraculous Year'' TV series===

On February 14, 2010, Bigelow was set to produce [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]]'s [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] composer series ''The Miraculous Year'' for [[HBO]], as well as direct the pilot episode.<ref>{{cite news|first=Josh|last=Duboff|title=Bigelow’s Next Project Is Miraculous|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/02/bigelows_next_project_is_mirac.html|date=June 6, 2016|website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> In June later that same year, [[Norbert Leo Butz]], [[Hope Davis]], [[Frank Langella]] and [[Patti LuPone]] were in talks to star in the series, as well as [[Eddie Redmayne]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|title=5 Actors In Talks For John Logan/ Kathryn Bigelow HBO Pilot 'Miraculous Year'|url=https://deadline.com/2010/06/five-actors-in-talks-for-the-john-logan-kathryn-bigelow-hbo-pilot-miraculous-year-46688/|date=June 6, 2014|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> and in July, [[Susan Sarandon]], [[Linus Roache]], [[Stark Sands]], Elaine Cassidy, Remy Nozik, Logan Georges, [[Lee Pace]], [[Louis Ozawa Changchien]], [[Giancarlo Esposito]], [[Karine Plantadit]], Andre Ward, Erik Altemus, [[Brooks Ashmanskas]], and [[Daniel Davis (actor)|Daniel Davis]] were also cast.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|title=Susan Sarandon In HBO 'Miraculous Year'|url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/susan-sarandon-joins-the-john-logan-kathryn-bigelow-hbo-pilot-miraculous-year-56763/|date=June 6, 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> On November 9, 2010, it was announced HBO would not be moving forward with the series.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|title='Miraculous Year' Not Going Forward At HBO|url=https://deadline.com/2010/11/miraculous-year-not-going-forward-at-hbo-82839/|date=November 9, 2010|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

===''The True American''===