Sam Mendes's unrealised projects: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 17:04, 6 June 2024

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The following is a list of '''unproduced Sam Mendes projects''' in roughly chronological order. During his long career, British film director [[Sam Mendes]] has worked on many projects that never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell, were officially cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

==2010s 2000s ==

===''American Prometheus''===

In 2005, following its publication, Mendes [[option (filmmaking)|optioned]] the rights to adapt the [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] [[biography]] ''[[American Prometheus]]'' by [[Kai Bird]] and [[Martin J. Sherwin]]. However, Mendes ultimately did not move forward with the project. The book would eventually be adapted as the film ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'', written and directed by [[Christopher Nolan]] and released in theatres on July 21, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Amsden|first=David|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-07-18/epic-backstory-of-oppenheimer-the-film-and-american-prometheus-the-book|date=18 July 2023|title=Oppenheimer's big-screen odyssey: The man, the book and the film's 50-year journey|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=8 October 2021|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/cillian-murphy-j-robert-oppenheimer-christopher-nolans-universal-film-july-2023-1234852888/|title=Cillian Murphy Confirmed to Star As J. Robert Oppenheimer In Christopher Nolan's Next Film At Universal, Film Will Bow in July 2023|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

== 2010s ==

===''On Chesil Beach''===

In June 2010, it was announced that Mendes would direct a film adaptation of [[Ian McEwan]]'s 2007 novella ''[[On Chesil Beach]]'' for [[Focus Features]], with McEwan adapting his own work and [[Carey Mulligan]] to star as the female lead; Mendes would also set to produce the project through [[Neal Street Productions]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 June 2010|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2010/06/sam-mendes-sweet-on-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-and-focus-feature-on-chesil-beach-with-carey-mulligan-44819/|title=Sam Mendes Sweet On 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' And Focus Feature 'On Chesil Beach' With Carey Mulligan|access-date=6 June 2010|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In November 2011, it was reported that [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]] would be replacing Mendes as director, with Mendes now only producing the project, and production expected to begin in the summer of 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=5 November 2011|url=https://www.screendaily.com/production/mike-newell-to-direct-on-chesil-beach/5034279.article|title=Mike Newell to direct On Chesil Beach|website=[[ScreenDaily]]|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref> The film would ultimately be directed by [[Dominic Cooke]] and star [[Saoirse Ronan]], with Mendes no longer involved, and premiered at the [[2017 Toronto International Film Festival]] on September 7, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jaafar|first=Ali|date=17 February 2016|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/saoirse-ronan-on-chesil-beach-number-9-films-elizabeth-karlsen-stephen-woolley-1201704131/|title=Saoirse Ronan Boards 'On Chesil Beach' For 'Carol' Producer Number 9 Films|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/aaron-sorkin-brie-larson-louis-ck-movies-added-toronto-film-festival-lineup/|title=Aaron Sorkin, Brie Larson, Louis CK Movies Added to Toronto Film Festival Lineup|last=Pond|first=Steve|date=15 August 2017|work=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>

===''The Voyeur's Motel''===

In April 2016, it was announced that [[DreamWorks Pictures]] had acquired the film rights to the [[Gay Talese]] novel and article ''The Voyeur's Motel'', with Mendes directing and producing.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 April 2016|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/sam-mendes-gay-talese-dreamworks-the-voyeurs-motel-1201738117/|title=DreamWorks, Sam Mendes Win Gay Talese’s 'The Voyeur's Motel'|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In November, the project was scrapped despite a draft being produced by [[Krysty Wilson-Cairns]], after Mendes became aware of the documentary ''[[Voyeur (film)|Voyeur]]'' and watched a cut with Wilson-Cairns.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|title=Sam Mendes, DreamWorks Drop Gay Talese 'Voyeur's Motel' Movie After Being Blindsided By Documentary|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/sam-mendes-gay-talese-steven-spielberg-drop-voyeurs-motel-dreamworks-movie-dead-1201859603/|date=23 November 2016|magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>

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===''Pinocchio'' remake===

In May 2017, it was announced that after out of directing ''James and the Giant Peach'', Mendes had entered talks to direct a live-action remake of the 1940 animated film ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' for [[Walt Disney Pictures]], with [[Chris Weitz]] writing the screenplay.<ref name= "Mendes Pinocchio"></ref> Mendes exited the project in November.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Galuppo|first=Mia|date=13 November 2017|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sam-mendes-exits-disneys-live-action-pinocchio-1057750/|title=Sam Mendes Exits Disney's Live-Action 'Pinocchio'|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> [[Pinocchio (2022 live-action film)|The film]] was eventually directed by [[Robert Zemeckis]] and released on [[Disney+]] on September 8, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/robert-zemeckis-pinocchio-disney-1203246886/|date=18 October 2019|title=Robert Zemeckis in Talks to Direct Live-Action 'Pinocchio' for Disney (EXCLUSIVE)|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=31 May 2022|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/pinocchio-premiere-date-disney-plus-1235281371/|title='Pinocchio' Live-Action Remake Premiere Date Set on Disney+|access-date=6 June 2024|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

== Offers ==