Peter Jackson's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

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{{AfC topic|media}}The following is '''a list of unproduced Peter Jackson projects''' in roughly chronological order. During his long career, New Zealand filmmaker [[Peter Jackson]] has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in [[development hell]], were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would seesaw life under a different production team.<ref name="Unrealized">{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/ichatterboxi-jacksons-ones-that-got-away/UPPKMXA7OR5XIEOHBID4EJ4VPQ/ |title=Jackson's ones that got away|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=December 9, 2003|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Unrealized2">{{cite web|last=Harrison|first=Mark|url=https://filmstories.co.uk/features/the-unproduced-film-projects-of-peter-jackson/|title=The unproduced film projects of Peter Jackson|website=Film Stories|date=June 11, 2020|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

{{Draft topics|internet-culture|films}}

{{AfC topic|media}}The following is '''a list of unproduced Peter Jackson projects''' in roughly chronological order. During his long career, New Zealand filmmaker [[Peter Jackson]] has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.<ref name="Unrealized">{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/ichatterboxi-jacksons-ones-that-got-away/UPPKMXA7OR5XIEOHBID4EJ4VPQ/|title=Jackson's ones that got away|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=December 9, 2003|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Unrealized2">{{cite web|last=Harrison|first=Mark|url=https://filmstories.co.uk/features/the-unproduced-film-projects-of-peter-jackson/|title=The unproduced film projects of Peter Jackson|website=Film Stories|date=June 11, 2020|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

==1980s==

===''As Nature Made Him''===

In the 1980's, Jackson intended to adapt the non-fiction book "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised a Girl."<ref name="Unrealized"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/steven-spielberg-reveals-peter-jacksons-next-movie-wont-be-tintin/QHDBQA627LODZ2MDCEUAAJGRDE/|title=Steven Spielberg reveals Peter Jackson's next movie won't be Tintin|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=June 29, 2016|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

===''A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: The Dream Lover''===

In the late 1980s, Jackson submitted a screenplay to [[New Line Cinema]] he co-wrote with [[Danny Mulheron ]] entitled ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: The Dream Lover''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|title=Peter Jackson's A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Lover [Script to Pieces]|url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/features/gore-verbinski-to-direct-bioshock-1117985365/|date=January 17, 2024|website=Wicked Horror|access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=JoBlo Horror Originals|title=PETER JACKSON'S ELM STREET PART 6 - WTF Happened to this Unmade Horror Movie|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihQFsWgdlHw|date=July 30, 2021|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> A separate script for a sixth film, ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]'' (1991), was made instead.

===''Bad Taste 2''===

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==1990s==

===''The Black Max''===

InPresumably in the 1990'searly 1990s, Jackson intended to direct the featurea film adaptationbased on the comic strip ofcharacter [[Black Max]].<ref name="Unrealized"/>

===''Blubberhead''===

In the 1990's1992, Jackson intendedwas toworking directon a [[stop motion]] fantasy epic called ''Blubberhead,'', aco-written [[BadDanny TasteMulheron]]-like. fantasyIt filmwas thatdescribed journalistas Ianthe Pryor"missing describedlink" asbetween Jackson's missingearly linkwork fromand his early[[The workLord toof the [[Rings (film series)|''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy]]. trilogyHe hired [[Randall William Cook]] to do the effects for the film, but it was ultimately never made.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Eisenberg|first=Adam|url=https://www.vfxvoice.com/randall-william-cook-an-oscar-winners-journey-from-harryhausen-to-hobbits/|title=RANDALLRandall WILLIAMWilliam COOKCook: ANAn OSCAROscar WINNERWinner'Ss JOURNEYJourney FROMfrom HARRYHAUSENHarryhausen TOto HOBBITSHobbits|magazine=VFX Voice|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Unrealized"/><ref name="Unrealized2"/>

===''Johnny Zombie''===

InAlso in 1992, Jackson was offered an opportunity to direct the [[horror comedy]] then-titled ''Johnny Zombie''. He turned it down, and the film was instead produced asunder the title ''[[My Boyfriend's Back (film)|My Boyfriend's Back]]'' the following year(1993).<ref name="Unrealized"/>

{{main|My Boyfriend's Back (film)}}

In 1992, Jackson was offered an opportunity to direct the [[horror comedy]] then-titled ''Johnny Zombie''. He turned it down, and the film was produced as ''[[My Boyfriend's Back (film)|My Boyfriend's Back]]'' the following year.<ref name="Unrealized"/>

===''Creature from the Black Lagoon'' remake===

In 1995, Jackson was associatedoffered withby a[[Universal projectPictures]] ofto direct a remake of ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon|]]''Creature from(1954). He passed on the Blackchance, and a decade later made Lagoon.''[[King Kong (2005 film)|King Kong]]'' (2005) for the studio instead.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Maddie|url=https://www.cbr.com/peter-jackson-turned-down-creature-from-the-black-lagoon-remake/|title=Before King Kong, Peter Jackson Nearly Remade Another Iconic Monster Movie|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=January 30, 2023|access-date=September 29, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Unrealized"/>

===''A Day with Wilbur Robinson''===

In 1995, Jackson was offered by author [[William Joyce (writer)|William Joyce]] to direct a live action adaptation of his book, ''[[A Day with Wilbur Robinson]]''. He turned it down, and the film became ''[[Meet The Robinsons]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boyle|first=Michael|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1151887/george-miller-peter-jackson-and-diane-keaton-were-early-contenders-to-direct-meet-the-robinsons-exclusive/|title=George Miller, Peter Jackson, And Diane Keaton Were Early Contenders To Direct Meet The Robinsons [Exclusive]|website=[[/Film]]|date=December 29, 2022|access-date=February 14, 2025}}</ref>

===''The Dam Busters'' remake===

{{main|The Dam Busters (film)#Planned remake}}

===''Invasion of Privacy''===

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===''Jean Batten''===

Jackson at one point optioned the [[film rights]] for the biography of the famous [[New Zealand]] aviatrixaviator, ''[[Jean Batten]]: The Garbo of the Skies''.<ref name="Unrealized"/>

=== ''The World isIs Not Enough'' ===

Jackson was offered to direct the [[James Bond]] film ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'' (1999), but [[Barbara Broccoli]] lost interest in Jackson after a screening of his film ''[[The Frighteners]]'' (1996).<ref>{{Cite book|author=Brian Sibley|title=Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|year=2006|___location=London|pages=397–8|isbn=0-00-717558-2|author-link=Brian Sibley}}</ref>

===''The True Story of John/Joan''===

In 1999, it was reported in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' that among the projects in development at [[Good Machine]] was ''The True Story of John/Joan'', set to be directed by Jackson from a script by [[Fran Walsh]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cox|first=Dan|url=https://variety.com/1999/more/news/good-machine-puts-slate-in-gear-1117502137/|title=Good Machine puts slate in gear|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 17, 1999|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref> It was adapted from [[John Colapinto]]'s ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' story of the same name about Canadian man [[David Reimer]] whose childhood was spent living as a girl after a botched circumcision as a baby. Colapinto later wrote a book-length account on Reimer, ''[[As Nature Made Him]]''.<ref name="Unrealized"/><ref name="Next">{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/steven-spielberg-reveals-peter-jacksons-next-movie-wont-be-tintin/QHDBQA627LODZ2MDCEUAAJGRDE/|title=Steven Spielberg reveals Peter Jackson's next movie won't be Tintin|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=June 29, 2016|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

==2000s==

===''Halo''===

{{main|Halo (franchise)#Unproduced feature}}

===''The Dam Busters'' remake===

In 2005, Jackson was set to produce a remake of [[The Dam Busters (film)#Planned remake|The Dam Busters]] with [[Stephen Fry]] writing the screenplay, for Jackson and journalist [[David Frost]] to produce the remake.<ref>{{cite web|last=Conlan|first=Tara|title=Frost clears Dam Busters for take-off|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/dec/08/film.filmnews|date=December 8, 2005|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Oatts|first=Joanne|title=Fry denies 'Doctor Who' rumours|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a43973/fry-denies-doctor-who-rumours/|date=March 15, 2007|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 9, 2024}}</ref>

===''Temeraire''===

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==2010s==

In the 2010s Jackson was associated with two projects of prequels, one of ''[[King Kong (2005 film)|King Kong]]'', the other ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|Tintin]]'', respectively cancelled and on hold.

===''King Kong'' prequel===

{{main|King Kong (2005 film)#Cancelled sequel and reboot}}

===''The Adventures of Tintin'' sequels===

{{main|The Adventures of Tintin (film)#PossibleProposed sequels}}

==2020s==

===Untitled Beatles project===

In 2022, following the release of his documentary ''[[The Beatles: Get Back]]'' on [[Disney+]], Jackson was reportedly in discussions with [[Beatles]] members [[Paul McCartney]] and [[Ringo Starr]] for an additional non-documentary feature project.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/get-back-peter-jackson-another-beatles-film-paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-1235073331/|title=After 5-Emmy-Nom Haul, 'Get Back's Peter Jackson Plots Another Beatles Film With Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 20, 2022|access-date=September 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Untitled BeatlesNew projectZealand-set film===

==Offers==

While promoting ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' (2014), Jackson revealed to several news publications that before embarking on directing the ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|Adventures of Tintin]]'' sequel, he wanted to return to his roots and make a new film set in [[New Zealand]] first. He stated that he and [[Fran Walsh]] were in the process of adapting several true stories about their native country that would be "similar in tone and scope" to ''[[Heavenly Creatures]]'' (1994). "We really want to do something now that's connected with where we live rather than something that's a [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] thing," said Jackson. No further details were disclosed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Suskind|first=Alex|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/no-regrets-peter-jackson-says-goodbye-to-middle-earth/|title='No Regrets': Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 4, 2014|access-date=October 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Lang, Brent|author2=Gray, Tim|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-hobbit-peter-jackson-the-lord-of-the-rings-1201380146/|title=Peter Jackson on the End of His Middle Earth Odyssey|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 16, 2014|access-date=October 29, 2024}}</ref> In 2016, [[Steven Spielberg]] revealed that a "secret" new film directed by Jackson was in development at [[Amblin Entertainment]].<ref name="Next"/>

=== ''The World is Not Enough'' ===

Jackson was offered to direct [[The World Is Not Enough]], but [[Barbara Broccoli]] lost interest in Jackson after a screening of [[The Frighteners]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Brian Sibley|title=Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|year=2006|___location=London|pages=397–8|isbn=0-00-717558-2|author-link=Brian Sibley}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflistReflist}}

==External links==

{{Peter Jackson}}

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{{Peter Jackson}}

[[:Category:draft articles]]

[[:Category:Lists of unrealized projects by artist|Jackson, Peter]]

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[[:Category:Lists of unrealized projects by artist|Jackson, Peter]]

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