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{{short description|none}}
==1960s==
===''The Public Eye''===
In January 1964, Nichols was announced to make his feature film debut as director with a film adaptation of [[Peter Shaffer]]'s play ''The Public Eye'', after the rights were bought by producer [[Ross Hunter]].<ref>{{cite news|title=PEOPLE AND PICTURES: Ross Hunter's 'Public Eye' -- Modern And Period Heroines -- Tots' Tale|author=Weiler, A. H.|date=January 12, 1964|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=X7}}</ref> He was still attached to direct the film by December that year
===''Barefoot in the Park''===
In December 1965, Nichols was in talks to helm the screen version of [[Neil Simon]]'s stage play ''[[Barefoot in the Park]]'' for [[Paramount Pictures]], but was reluctant to repeat the same projects in a new medium, as he had already directed it for stage. The following year, [[Gene Saks]] signed on to make his feature directorial debut with the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/22475|title=AFI|Catalog - Barefoot in the Park|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum''===
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===''The Exorcist''===
In the 1970s, [[Warner Bros.]] chief John Calley wanted Nichols to direct the film adaptation of [[William Peter Blatty]]'s novel ''[[The Exorcist (novel)|The Exorcist]]'', and Nichols told both [[Elaine May]] and [[David Geffen]] that missing the opportunity was his biggest regret.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gwynns|last=Watkins|title=Mike Nichols Regretted Not Directing 'The Exorcist'|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mike-nichols-regretted-not-directing-the-128848002007.html|date=September 11, 2015|website=[[Yahoo! News]]|access-date=February 8, 2024}}</ref>
Nichols was the first director [[Sam Spiegel]] hired to take on directing duties for an adaptation of [[F. Scott Fitzgerald]]'s unfinished novel ''[[The Last Tycoon]]''.<ref name=Tycoon>{{cite news|last=Farber|first=Stephen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/21/archives/hollywood-takes-on-the-last-tycoon.html|title=Hollywood Takes On The Last Tycoon'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 21, 1976|access-date=March 20, 2024}}</ref> In Nichol's version, the character of [[Monroe Stahr]] was to have been played by [[Al Pacino]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Setoodeh|first=Ramin|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/mike-nichols-death-al-pacino-remembers-1201361303/|title=Al Pacino Remembers Mike Nichols: 'I Loved Him So Much'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2024}}</ref> He worked for a year and a half on the film before dropping out due to editing duties on ''[[The Fortune]]''. "I think [Nichols] knew that he had an unsuccessful picture," Spiegel commented. "And he was in a state of depression. He wanted me to postpone the picture for a year. I wouldn't dream of it." Instead, Spiegel hired [[Elia Kazan]] to direct ''The Last Tycoon'', who cast [[Robert De Niro]] as Stahr.<ref name=Tycoon/>
===''A Star Is Born''===
Nichols was writers [[John Gregory Dunne]] and [[Joan Didion]]'s second choice to direct their [[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|musical remake]] of ''[[A Star Is Born (1937 film)|A Star Is Born]]'', centered in the rock world. [[Warren Beatty]] was also linked to the film, but [[Frank Pierson]] would direct it.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gray|first=Tim|url=https://variety.com/2019/vintage/features/a-star-is-born-versions-1203109215/|title=The Story of 'A Star Is Born' Before Bradley Cooper's Version|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
===''Bogart Slept Here''===
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After Nichols departed from the production of ''Bogart Slept Here'', by November 1975, he reportedly agreed to produce and direct [[Jay Presson Allen]]'s ''[[Just Tell Me What You Want]]'' for [[Warner Bros.]] Nichols would not remain with the project however, and [[Sidney Lumet]] would sign on to helm instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/56451|title=AFI|Catalog - Just Tell Me What You Want|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''
Around 1976–77, actress [[Julie Christie]], producer [[David Susskind]] and Nichols expressed interest in ''[[Swing Shift (film)|Swing Shift]]'', an original screenplay by [[Nancy Dowd]] for [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]. At this stage, the story focused on the central characters of "Lucky Lockhart" and "Rosie", who was later rewritten as "Hazel Zanussi" following several rewrites over the years, overseen by [[Bo Goldman]] and [[Ron Nyswaner]]. In the 1980s, [[Jonathan Demme]] signed on to direct the film for [[Warner Bros.]], which starred [[Goldie Hawn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/57221|title=AFI|Catalog - Swing Shift|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''Annie''===
Following the 1977 staging of the musical ''[[Annie (musical)|Annie]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], the writers asked $5 million for film rights, and requested for Nichols to direct the adaptation. By December, [[Columbia Pictures]] acquired the property. [[John Huston]] would direct [[Annie (1982 film)|the film]] instead, released in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/56724|title=AFI|Catalog - Annie|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''Melvin and Howard''===
{{main|Melvin and Howard#Production}}
In 1978, Nichols spent several months working on the [[A Chorus Line (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[A Chorus Line]]'' for [[Universal Pictures]] with screenwriter [[Bo Goldman]], who were both concerned about how to widen its plot and make it more visual without destroying what made the original stage production so affective. Goldman's finished screenplay did not satisfy Universal head [[Ned Tanen]] and their version was ultimately scrapped after Nichols could not receive a larger projected budget than $16 million, which he deemed "impractical". The project eventually landed at [[Columbia Pictures]], and [[Richard Attenborough]] was selected to direct the film, in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freedman|first=Samuel G.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/11/movies/chorus-line-vs-hollywood-a-saga.html|title='CHORUS LINE' VS. HOLLYWOOD-A SAGA|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 11, 1984|access-date=September 2, 2023}}</ref>
===''The Jerk''===
{{main|The Jerk#Production}}
▲===''A Chorus Line''===
===''The French Lieutenant's Woman''===
Nichols was one of several directors who tried and failed to conquer the complicated narrative of [[John Fowles]]' epic romantic novel ''[[The French Lieutenant's Woman]]'', before the [[The French Lieutenant's Woman (film)|adaptation]] was eventually produced in 1980 by British director [[Karel Reisz]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/the-french-lieutenant-s-woman-1200424848/|title=The French Lieutenant's Woman|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 31, 1980|access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
===''Sophie's Choice''===
In 1979, Nichols and [[Miloš Forman]] expressed interest in dividing directorial duties of the [[New York City|NY]] and European scenes, respectively, for ''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'', which [[Alan J. Pakula]] had signed on earlier to produce and direct.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/55227|title=AFI|Catalog - Sophie's Choice|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
==1980s==
===''Betrayal''===
A week after the New York stage opening of [[Harold Pinter]]'s play ''[[Betrayal (play)|Betrayal]]'', Nichols agreed to direct a [[Betrayal (1983 film)|film version]] for producer [[Sam Spiegel]]. They wanted [[Meryl Streep]] to play the heroine, but she changed her mind after her role in ''[[The French Lieutenant's Woman (film)|The French Lieutenant's Woman]]'', which was also set in England, left her away from her family. After Streep's departure, Nichols too left the project, and [[David Jones (director)|David Jones]] was signed to replace him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chase|first=Chris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/18/movies/at-the-movies-surprises-and-luck-tell-story-of-betrayal.html|title=AT THE MOVIES; Surprises and luck tell story of 'Betrayal.'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 18, 1983|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
===''First Blood''===
{{main|First Blood#Development}}
===''Innocent Blood''===
In 1981, it was reported that [[20th Century Studios|20th Century-Fox]] was financing Nichols's film of mystery writer [[P. D. James]]'s ''[[Innocent Blood (novel)|Innocent Blood]]'', a novel about a woman's search for identity. [[Tom Stoppard]] worked on the screenplay for the film, and [[Frank Yablans]] was set to produce.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Francis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/22/movies/hollywood-embraces-the-difficult-novel.html|title=HOLLYWOOD EMBRACES THE DIFFICULT NOVEL|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 22, 1981|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
===''Rhinestone''===
{{main|Rhinestone (film)#Development and writing}}
▲===''Swing Shift''===
===''The Longshot''===
In 1985, Nichols was preparing to direct ''[[The Longshot]]'', having received the offer from [[Harvey Korman]]. After rehearsing with the actors in [[Los Angeles]] and making script suggestions, Nichols left the project as he was otherwise committed to directing ''[[Heartburn (film)|Heartburn]]'' with [[Meryl Streep]] and [[Jack Nicholson]]. Instead, he agreed to serve as executive producer on the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/67737|title=AFI|Catalog - The Longshot|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''O.C. and Stiggs''===
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===''Frankie and Johnny''===
In 1988, it was reported that [[Paramount Pictures]] optioned [[Terrence McNally]]'s two-character play ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'' for Nichols to direct as a film. At the time, [[Dianne Wiest]] and [[Richard Dreyfuss]] were likely to star under Nichols' direction, but all three would eventually depart from the production. [[Frankie and Johnny (1991 film)|The film]], which debuted in 1991, instead starred [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] and [[Al Pacino]], and was directed by [[Garry Marshall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58890|title=AFI|Catalog - Frankie and Johnny|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
===''The Bonfire of the Vanities''===
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==1990s==
===''The Remains of the Day''===
{{main|The Remains of the Day (film)#Production}}
===''All the Pretty Horses''===
In 1992,<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/dicaprio-horse-trading-monty-goes-legit-1117469657/|title=DiCaprio horse-trading; 'Monty' goes legit|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 9, 1998|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Busch|first=Anita M.|url=https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/horses-rides-with-col-and-ua-99126919/|title='HORSES' RIDES WITH COL AND UA|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 12, 1995|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/col-corrals-ua-s-horses-1117434857/|title='Col corrals UA's 'Horses'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 8, 1997|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref name="NY Times">{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/15/movies/mike-nichols-plans-a-career-finale.html|title=Mike Nichols Plans A Career Finale|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 15, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine|last=Archerd|first=Army|url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/mancuso-nicholson-renew-ties-1117862224/|title=Mancuso, Nicholson renew ties|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 27, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
===''A Simple Plan''===
{{main|A Simple Plan (film)#Development}}
===''The Impersonator''===
==2000s==▼
In March 1993,<ref name="NY Times"/><ref name="Variety"/>
===''Titanic'' stage production===
In July 1993,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/dish-she-said-he-said-warner-bros-said-adios-108753/|title=Dish; She said, he said — Warner Bros. said adios|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 15, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
===Untitled Oscar Wilde biopic===
In 1994, [[United Artists]] was developing a film about the life of controversial British playwright [[Oscar Wilde]] that was to be produced and presumably directed by Nichols, with [[Alice Arlen]] as executive producer. [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]] wrote the script, and [[Liam Neeson]] was allegedly in discussions to play Wilde.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/dish-dolgen-s-first-greenlight-is-the-shade-of-jade-120183/|title=Dish: Dolgen's first greenlight is the shade of 'Jade'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 14, 1994|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
===''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' remake===
In an April 1999 profile for ''[[The New York Times]]'', Nichols revealed that his next project was likely to be a remake of the 1949 black comedy ''[[Kind Hearts and Coronets]]'' which was being written by [[Elaine May]] and set to star [[Robin Williams]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Applebome|first=Peter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/25/movies/film-always-asking-what-is-this-really-about.html|title=FILM; Always Asking, What Is This Really About?|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 25, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> The following year, it was officially reported that [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] was moving toward a fall start for production on the Nichols-directed ''Kind Hearts and Coronets''. Nichols had developed the script with May before they were officially given the [[greenlight]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/u-nichols-take-kindly-to-hearts-redo-for-fall-1117775616/|title=U, Nichols take kindly to 'Hearts' redo for fall|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 26, 2000|access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref> [[Will Smith]], [[Connie Nielsen]] and [[Jada Pinkett Smith]] were also cast in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/kindheartsandcoronets.html|title=Coming Attractions - Kind Hearts and Coronets|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=August 8, 2000|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210143613/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/kindheartsandcoronets.html|archive-date=February 10, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===''Dumbstruck''===
In May 1999, it was reported in ''Variety'' that Nichols had been attached to direct ''Dumbstruck'' with [[John Leguizamo]] set to star in and produce the film for [[Universal Pictures]]. John Weidner and [[Stephen Susco]] wrote the script, which follows a mute performance artist.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Carver|first=Benedict|url=https://variety.com/1999/more/news/leguizamo-bows-first-slate-1117502372/|title=Leguizamo bows first slate|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 21, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Carver|first=Benedict|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/scribe-duo-gets-airtime-1117502630/|title=Scribe duo gets 'Airtime'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 1, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
===''Diva''===
In September 1999,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Moerk|first=Christian|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/goldwyn-to-renovate-warners-handyman-1117756006/|title=Goldwyn to renovate Warners' 'Handyman'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 27, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Gould, Howard Michael|author-link=Howard Michael Gould|url=https://howardmichaelgould.com/diva/|title=DIVA|website=howardmichaelgould.com|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/alumni/learn/amherstreads/pastfeatures/2019-features/january-2019-last-looks-by-howard-michael-gould/bio|title=Last Looks by Howard Michael Gould '84|website=[[Amherst College]]|date=January 2019|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
▲==2000s==
===Untitled Edie Sedgwick biopic===
Nichols and actress [[Natalie Portman]] considered doing a film about [[Warhol superstar]] [[Edie Sedgwick]], but decided to collaborate on a [[Closer (film)|film version]] of [[Patrick Marber]]'s play ''[[Closer (play)|Closer]]'' instead, which was released in 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Stein|first=Joel|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995787,00.html|title=A Fantasy You Can Bring Home to Mother|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=November 29, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306104923/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995787,00.html|archive-date=March 6, 2008}}</ref>
===''Skinny Dip''
===''Seven-Year Switch''===
===''High
===''Deep Water''
==2010s==
===''Great Hope Springs''
{{main|Hope Springs (2012 film)#Production}}
===''One Last Thing Before I Go''
===''Master Class''
==See also==
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{{Mike Nichols}}
[[Category:Lists of unrealized projects by artist|Nichols, Mike]]
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