Spike Lee's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Spike Lee Cannes 2018.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lee attending the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]]]]

The following is '''a list of unproducedDuring [[Spike Lee projects''' in roughly chronological order. During filmography|his long career]], American film director and producerfilmmaker [[Spike Lee]] has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects, fell in [[development hell]] or are officially canceled.<ref name="Unrealized">{{cite web|last=Kiang|first=Jessica|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/10-lost-unmade-possible-future-projects-of-spike-lee-91191/|title=10 Lost, Unmade & Possible Future Projects Of Spike Lee|website=[[IndieWire]]|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>

==1980s==

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==2000s==

===''Ali''===

{{main|Ali (2001 film)#Production}}

===''Save MeUs, Joe Louis''===

In July 2000, Lee acquired the rights to make a film about [[Joe Louis]] from a script he wrote with boxing expert [[Bert Randolph Sugar]] and scriptwriting legend [[Budd Schulberg]] under the title ''Save MeUs, Joe Louis''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike Lee takes on Joe Louis boxing film|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/jul/28/news.spikelee|date=28 July 2000|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> The movie was focused on Louis' fights with [[Max Schmeling]] with [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] interested in playing Schmeling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Toro|first=Gabe|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Could Have Played Max Schmeling In Spike Lee's Unproduced Joe Louis Biopic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/09/arnold-schwarzenegger-could-have-played-max-schmeling-in-spike-lees-unproduced-joe-louis-biopic-116371/|date=13 September 2013|website=[[Indiewire]]|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> In July 2006, Schulberg mentioned that Lee talked with [[Terrence Howard]] to play Louis.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ecksel|first=Robert|title=ARTICLES OF 2006Save Us Spike Lee, Budd Schulberg and Joe Louis|url=http://tss.ib.tv/boxing/articles-of-2006/4685-save-us-spike-lee-budd-schulberg-and-joe-louis|date=26 November 2006|publisher=The Sweet Science|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> The film fell into [[development hell]] because Lee didn't get half of the budget he needed. Following the death of Schulberg, Lee continuously reaffirmed his intention to make the film both in 2018, 2021, and 20212025. "I made a promise to Budd that one day, soon, that we'd get the money, and I'm gonna keep that promise and get that film made."<ref>{{cite video|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfRMe-gnP6s&si=Wj2dXMC9s9BteXG0|title=Spike Lee Breaks Down His Film Heroes &#124; GQ|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[GQ]]|date=August 17, 2018|access-date=November 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|url=https://theplaylist.net/spike-lee-vows-save-us-joe-louis-20210101/|title=Spike Lee Vows To Make 'Save Us, Joe Louis' Boxing Drama & Promised Screenwriter Budd Schulberg To Make It Before His Death|website=The Playlist|date=January 1, 2021|access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |author=[[First Take (talk show)|@firsttake]] |title=#SpikeLee talks about a promise he made to his friend, writer Budd Schulberg, to make a #movie they wrote together about boxer #JoeLouis. #boxing #boxer |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@firsttake/video/7505126252651564319 |format=video |via=[[TikTok]] |date=May 16, 2025 |access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref>

===''Rent''===

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===''Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick'' documentary===

In February 2022, it had been reported that Lee was to film a multipart documentary for [[ESPN]] on former [[San Francisco 49ers]] quarterback [[Colin Kaepernick]], featuring extensive interviews and access to his personal archive.<ref>{{cite web|author=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33204564/spike-lee-direct-colin-kaepernick-docuseries-espn|title=Spike Lee to direct Colin Kaepernick docuseries for ESPN|website=[[ESPN]]|date=February 2, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref> In December of that year, the documentary was given the title of ''Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick'', and Lee revealed he had been working on the series for over a year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dalton|first=Ben|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/spike-lee-espn-series-titled-da-saga-of-colin-kaepernick/5177137.article|title=Spike Lee ESPN series titled 'Da Saga Of Colin Kaepernick'|website=Screen Daily|date=December 4, 2022|access-date=November 17, 2023}}</ref> By 2025, it was reported that the project will never be released and has been canceled due to "creative differences" among Lee, Kaepernick, and ESPN.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |last2=Richwine |first2=Lisa |date=August 16, 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/espn-will-not-air-spike-lees-docuseries-colin-kaepernick-citing-creative-2025-08-16/ |title=Exclusive: ESPN will not air Spike Lee's docuseries on Colin Kaepernick, citing 'creative differences' |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

===Untitled ROTC drama series===