Ron Howard's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Ron Howard Cannes 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Howard arriving at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]]]]

The following is '''a list of unproduced Ron Howard projects''' in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director [[Ron Howard]] 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 cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

==1980s==

===''Mr. Mom''===

{{main article|Mr. Mom#Production}}

===''Rainbow Warrior''===

In the early 1980s, Howard planned to make a film surrounding the events of [[Greenpeace]] and their ship the ''[[Rainbow Warrior (1955)|Rainbow Warrior]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Collis|first=Clark|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/12/10/heart-sea-ron-howard/|title=In the Heart of the Sea: How Ron Howard overcame his fear of the ocean to make the film|websitemagazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=December 10, 2015|access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> "That ship had been impounded and captured by [[Spain]], and I wanted to do a movie about that, and their escape," Howard later said. "I couldn't get it off the ground." He later fulfilled his ambitions to make a movie set in the ocean with 2015's ''[[In the Heart of the Sea (film)|In the Heart of the Sea]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Nate|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/12/an-interview-with-ron-howard-the-nicest-heavy-hitter-in-hollywood|title=An interview with Ron Howard, the nicest heavy hitter in Hollywood|newspaper=[[USA Today#For the Win|For the Win]]|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>

===''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace''===

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===''Hep''===

In January 1993, among the projects [[Imagine Entertainment]] were developing was ''Hep'', a "stylish, 1960s detective piece" conceived by Howard about a "slick" [[Los Angeles|L.A.]] [[Private investigator|private eye]] who must solve his partner's murder. [[Rockne O'Bannon]] was writing the screenplay based on Howard's idea.,<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Eller, Claudia|author2=Marx, Andy|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/imagine-turns-attention-to-prod-n-103004/|title=Imagine turns attention to prod'n|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 14, 1993|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/imagine-bursting-with-development-work-106314/|title=Imagine bursting with development work|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 28, 1993|accessdate=April 8, 2025}}</ref> [[John Byrum]] was hired to rewrite O'Bannon's script. The project was later retitled ''Johnny Diamond'', and [[Scott Rosenberg]] was brought on to pen a full rewrite of the script, with [[William Goldman]] overseeing the rewrite.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/rosenberg-inked-to-polish-diamond-1116678494/|title=Rosenberg inked to polish 'Diamond'|website=www.variety.com|date=August 22, 1997|access-date=April 8, 2025}}</ref> The film was never made, with Howard nor with another director attached.

===''Clipped''===

In July 1993, it was reported that Howard was developing a pitch called ''Clipped'' for his [[Imagine Entertainment]] production banner, which was being eyed as a vehicle for [[Steve Martin]]. Howard described it as "a contemporary comedy which explores the human psyche in an entertaining and exciting way. A guy gets a paper clip stuck in his brain, and as it moves around, it stimulates different lobes of his brain, whether it's his willpower, or his ability to censor." [[Charlie Peters]] was to write the script.<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>

===''The Chamber''===

{{main article|The Chamber (1996 film)#Production history}}

===''Into Thin Air''===

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===''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace''===

In the 1990s, Howard was one of three directors, including [[Robert Zemeckis]] and [[Steven Spielberg]], in talks with [[George Lucas]] to direct ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'', which Howard revealed on a 2015 episode of the ''Happy, Sad Confused'' podcast, stating that he found the offer too daunting. Lucas eventually ended up directing the film.<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Chitwood|title='Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' Was Offered to Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis|url=https://collider.com/star-wars-episode-1-ron-howard-steven-spielberg-robert-zemeckis/|date=November 25, 2015|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

===''Dark Horse''===

In 1996, Howard was attached to direct [[John Travolta]] in a film called ''Dark Horse'' which allegedly follows a politician running for President who'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. The project languished in [[development hell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/darkhorse.html|title=Coming Attractions - Dark Horse|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=July 12, 1998|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990223213616/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/darkhorse.html|archive-date=February 23, 1999|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''The Secret Life of Walter Mitty''===

In July 1997, it was reported that [[New Line Cinema]] was in talks with Howard to direct a new adaptation of [[James Thurber]]'s short story "[[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty]]", with [[Jim Carrey]] attached to star in the lead role.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine|author=Variety Staff|title=Howard mulls 'Mitty'|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/howard-mulls-mitty-1116676941/|date=July 11, 1997|websitemagazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

===''The Pretenders''===

In October 1997, it was reported that Howard had shown interest in directing ''The Pretenders'', a [[Western film|Western]] [[Epic film|epic]] with a contemporary edge, that told a story of greed and corruption among the powerful robber barons of 1873 [[San Francisco]]. [[Eric Warren Singer]] wrote the screenplay, with [[Matthew McConaughey]] and [[Brad Pitt]] in talks to play cousins who make a trek west to San Francisco from their [[Kentucky]] home, in a pairing said to be reminiscent of ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/mcconaughey-pitt-may-saddle-up-for-howard-1116674380/|title=McConaughey, Pitt may saddle up for Howard|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 17, 1997|access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref>

===''Laws of Madness''===

{{Expand section|date=January 2025}}

In March 1998,<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/pitt-joins-madness-faux-oldman-exposed-1117468444/|title=Pitt joins 'Madness'; faux Oldman exposed|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 4, 1998|access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Span, Paula|author2=Kastor, Elizabeth|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/06/19/schizophrenic-lawyers-triumph-turns-into-tragedy/172b6c45-85a7-4e3c-ab74-a63590aef088/|title=SCHIZOPHRENIC LAWYER'S TRIUMPH TURNS INTO TRAGEDY|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 18, 1998|access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Abramowitz|first=Rachel|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-25-et-abram25-story.html|title=In a Crisis, It Was a 'Beautiful' Job|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 25, 2002|access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Friedman|first=Roger|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/exclusive-ron-howard-changed-his-mind-and-screenwriter-admits-to-semi-fictional-movie|title=Exclusive: Ron Howard Changed His Mind; and Screenwriter Admits to 'Semi-Fictional Movie'|website=[[Fox News]]|date=February 15, 2002|access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>

===''The Sea Wolf''===

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===''Intolerable Cruelty''===

{{main article|Intolerable Cruelty#Production}}

===''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone''===

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===''Some Like It Hot'' remake===

In the early 2000s, Howard had been set to direct a remake of [[Billy Wilder]]'s classic comedy ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'' with [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Ashton Kutcher]], and [[Shia LaBeouf]] in [[Marilyn Monroe]], [[Tony Curtis]], and [[Jack Lemmon]]'s roles, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Amy Nicholson|author2=Paul Sheer|title=Some Like It Hot|url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/some-like-it-hot/|date=October 2, 2019|publisher=[[Earwolf]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

===''Bay of Pigs''===

In October 2000, screenwriter [[Shane Salerno]] was reportedly writing the historical drama ''Bay of Pigs'' for Howard to direct, and produce alongside [[Brian Grazer]] and [[Todd Hallowell]] for [[Imagine Entertainment]] and [[Universal Pictures]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/salerno-tries-on-jersey-deal-1117787515/|title=Salerno tries on Jersey deal|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 10, 2000|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/bayofpigs.html|title=Coming Attractions - Bay of Pigs|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=May 30, 2001|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210155350/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/bayofpigs.html|archive-date=February 10, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''The Alamo''===

{{main article|The Alamo (2004 film)#Development and writing}}

===''The Serpent and the Eagle''===

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===''Inside Man''===

{{main article|Inside Man#Development}}

===''Last Man Home''===

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===''Changeling''===

{{main article|Changeling (film)#Development}}

===''Caché'' remake===

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===''Colossus: The Forbin Project'' remake===

{{main article|Colossus: The Forbin Project#Remake}}

===''The Emperor's Children''===

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===''The Lost Symbol''===

{{main article|The Lost Symbol#Adaptation}}

===''The Parsifal Mosaic''===

{{main article|The Parsifal Mosaic#Film adaptation}}

==2010s==

===''The Dark Tower''===

{{main article|The Dark Tower (2017 film)#Ron Howard and Universal Pictures (2010–2015)}}

===''My Stroke of Insight''===

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===''Seveneves''===

{{main article|Seveneves#Film adaptation}}

===''Zelda''===

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==2020s==

===''The Fixer''===

In January 2020, Howard[[Paramount wasPictures]] set Howard to direct and produce ''The Fixer'', a political thriller about a failed assassination attempt on [[Fidel Castro]] for [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|title=Ron Howard Set By Paramount To Direct 'The Fixer,' Plot To Kill Fidel Castro|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/ron-howard-the-fixer-paramount-cold-war-tale-botched-fidel-castro-assassination-bradley-cooper-todd-phillips-brian-grazer-andrew-panay-1202846429/|date=January 10, 2020|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

===Untitled Lang Lang biopic===

In September 2020, Howard was announced to direct a film [[Biographical film|biopic]] of Chinese pianist [[Lang Lang]], written by Michele Mulroney and [[Kieran Mulroney]] based on his memoir ''Journey of a Thousand Miles''. Howard planned for it to be his next film after ''[[Thirteen Lives]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/ron-howard-imagine-agc-caa-biopic-pianist-lang-lang-1234581855/|title=Ron Howard, Imagine, AGC & CAA Tune Up Biopic Of Virtuoso Chinese Pianist Lang Lang|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>

===''Willow'' season 2===

In January 2023, Howard, who made the original ''[[Willow (1988 film)|Willow]]'', expressed interest in directing episodes of the [[Disney+]] [[Willow (TV series)|revival series]] if renewed for a second season. Though a follow-up never ultimately occurred, he did serve as an executive producer on the first season and was highly involved in the show's overall development.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lenker|first=Maureen Lee|url=https://ew.com/tv/ron-howard-wants-to-direct-an-episode-of-willow-if-it-gets-renewed/|title=Ron Howard wants to direct an episode of ''Willow'' if it gets renewed|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=January 16, 2023|access-date=April 25, 2025}}</ref>

<!--===Untitled firefighter film===

On June 16, 2025, journalist [[Jeff Sneider]] reported that Howard would direct [[Glen Powell]] in an an untitled film, scripted by [[Christina Hodson]], for [[Amazon MGM Studios]]. It centers on an elite group of [[firefighter]]s who "must rekindle their fractured relationship when a series of deadly fires sweep across [[Texas]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=June 16, 2025 |title=Exclusive: Glen Powell to Star in Untitled Firefighter Movie from Director Ron Howard, Amazon MGM Studios |url=https://www.theinsneider.com/p/glen-powell-firefighter-movie-ron-howard-christina-hodson-amazon-mgm-studios |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 16, 2025 |website=[[The InSneider]]}}</ref>

===''Alone at Dawn''===

Also on June 16, 2025, as claimed by ''[[Puck (media company)|Puck]]'', Howard's next directing project after ''[[Eden (2024 film)|Eden]]'' was likely to be ''Alone at Dawn'', a film adapted from the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz about Air Force combat controller [[John A. Chapman]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Masters |first=Kim |url=https://puck.news/brian-grazer-goes-maga/ |title=Brian Grazer Goes MAGA |website=[[Puck (media company)|Puck]] |date=June 16, 2025 |access-date=June 20, 2025 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

===Untitled sci-fi fantasy film===

In an August 2025 interview published by ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'', Howard expressed interest in making a contemporary [[Science fiction|sci-fi]] [[Fantasy film|fantasy]] project, revealing that he was "dying to find" and "actively searching" for a script with the tone and style of the film ''[[Big Fish]]''. "I love doing movies based on real events, but that pushes the aesthetic of the film into a more naturalistic vein," added Howard. "And if I could find a good fantasy where I connected with the themes and the character, it would open the door to something a little more visually poetic."<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ebiri, Bilge |date=August 13, 2025 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/ron-howard-in-conversation.html |title=Ron Howard Has Worker With Everybody ... And He Has Stories |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>-->

==Producer only==

===''Oh, the Places You'll Go!''===

In 1998, Howard and [[Brian Grazer]] were reportedly attached to produce a film adaptation of the [[Dr. Seuss]] children's book ''[[Oh, the Places You'll Go!]]'', but were focused on [[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film)|adapting]] ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas!]]'' at the time.<ref>{{cite web|author=Variety Staff|title=Hoffmann nabs 'Flawless,' more Seuss on loose|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/hoffmann-nabs-flawless-more-seuss-on-loose-1117480497/|date=September 17, 1998|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> The film is now set be released on March 17, 2028, and will be directed by [[Jon M. Chu]].

===''The Church of Reggie'' TV pilot===

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[[Category:Lists of unrealized projects by artist|Howard, Ron]]

[[Category:Ron Howard|Unrealized projects]]