Spike Lee's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:24, 25 May 2025

Revision as of 20:24, 25 May 2025

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===''Save Us, Joe Louis''===

In July 2000, Lee acquired the rights to make a film about [[Joe Louis]] from a script he wrote with boxing expert [[Bert Randolph Sugar]] and scriptwriting legend [[Budd Schulberg]] under the title ''Save Us, Joe Louis''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike Lee takes on Joe Louis boxing film|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/jul/28/news.spikelee|date=28 July 2000|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> The movie was focused on Louis' fights with [[Max Schmeling]] with [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] interested in playing Schmeling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Toro|first=Gabe|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Could Have Played Max Schmeling In Spike Lee's Unproduced Joe Louis Biopic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/09/arnold-schwarzenegger-could-have-played-max-schmeling-in-spike-lees-unproduced-joe-louis-biopic-116371/|date=13 September 2013|website=[[Indiewire]]|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> In July 2006, Schulberg mentioned that Lee talked with [[Terrence Howard]] to play Louis.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ecksel|first=Robert|title=ARTICLES OF 2006Save Us Spike Lee, Budd Schulberg and Joe Louis|url=http://tss.ib.tv/boxing/articles-of-2006/4685-save-us-spike-lee-budd-schulberg-and-joe-louis|date=26 November 2006|publisher=The Sweet Science|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> The film fell into [[development hell]] because Lee didn't get half of the budget he needed. Following the death of Schulberg, Lee continuously reaffirmed his intention to make the film in 2018, 2021, and 2025. "I made a promise to Budd that one day, soon, that we'd get the money, and I'm gonna keep that promise and get that film made."<ref>{{cite video|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfRMe-gnP6s&si=Wj2dXMC9s9BteXG0|title=Spike Lee Breaks Down His Film Heroes &#124; GQ|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[GQ]]|date=August 17, 2018|access-date=November 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|url=https://theplaylist.net/spike-lee-vows-save-us-joe-louis-20210101/|title=Spike Lee Vows To Make 'Save Us, Joe Louis' Boxing Drama & Promised Screenwriter Budd Schulberg To Make It Before His Death|website=The Playlist|date=January 1, 2021|access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |author=[[First Take (talk show)|@firsttake]] |title=#SpikeLee talks about a promise he made to his friend, writer Budd Schulberg, to make a #movie they wrote together about boxer #JoeLouis. #boxing #boxer |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@firsttake/video/7505126252651564319 |format=video |via=[[TikTok]] |language=French |date=May 16, 2025 |access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref>

===''Rent''===