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{{short description|none}}
==1960s==
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===''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''===
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===''A Chorus Line''===
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]],
===''The Jerk''===
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===''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''===
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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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