The 8 Best Movies Never Made
Research into the film industry indicates how projects such as I am Legend, The Hobbit and Schindler’s List could have been completely different.
There are famous stories from across Hollywood about alternative films that never were. Projects that have achieved cult status for being incredibly close to being made, before paving the way for films we know today. The stories range from the interesting cases, like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg switching Cape Fear and Schindler’s List, to the borderline nightmares, like James Cameron’s planned Spider-Man film which contained a scene in which Spider-Man had sex on top of the Brooklyn Bridge. But since I am a mid-level geek with a hopeful disposition, I decided to examine the best films never made.
1. Ant-Man (2015) — Director/Writer: Edgar Wright.
One of the best filmmakers of our time and a geek of the highest caliber making a film that switches between the 1960s and modern day, with Simon Pegg in the lead role. Sounds perfect, right? Unfortunately the studio became too controlling and attempted to push Wright’s vision aside, motivating the director and lead actor to respectfully retreat.
2. The Wolverine (2013) — Director: Darren Aronofsky.
With a clear passion for the source material by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont, this looked to be one of the best comic book films in recent years. However, just three months into production, Aronofsky had to leave the project due to personal circumstances. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with the film we received, it just would have been interesting to see Aronofsky’s take on Wolverine before passing the character to James Mangold.
3. The Hobbit (2012–2014) — Director: Guillermo Del Toro.
I still have daydreams about this project. The king of fantasy cinema taking the audience through his vision of Middle Earth for two films. This is a filmmaker who knows how to tell a story and whose imagination has no boundaries so it would have been fantastic to see a fresh perspective, rather than sitting through nine hours of Peter Jackson cashing in on Lord of the Rings nostalgia.
4. The Lovely Bones (2009) — Director: Lynne Ramsay.
Originally this film was set to be directed by Lynne Ramsay, who famously bought the rights to the film before the book was finished. After reading the entire novel and being disappointed, Ramsay swiftly left the project. We should however be thankful for this story, because without it Lynne Ramsay would not have gone on to direct her masterpiece We Need to Talk About Kevin.
5. Watchmen (2009) — Director: Terry Gilliam.
Many have considered adapting Alan Moore’s masterpiece, but few have come as close as Terry Gilliam. After story boarding the film and realising there was no way to adequately reduce the source material, Gilliam’s version of the alternate eighties ran into issues concerning exceeding the budget. After toying with the idea of making Watchmen into a five part television series, Gilliam eventually left the project after asking Alan Moore how he would approach making the film, to which Moore responded “Easy. I wouldn’t.”
6. Watchmen (2009) — Director: Paul Greengrass.
After Terry Gilliam left the project in the nineties there was a gap left for a new director. Stepping into the role was Paul Greengrass, director of Captain Phillips and the Bourne series. Greengrass came as close to making the film as he could, having actually been on set with various props. So it was a surprise that he left the set before the cameras started rolling. Ultimately the project fell to Zack Snyder. The less said about him the better.
7. I am Legend (2007) — Director: Ridley Scott.
Is the film particularly good? No. Would it have been better if it had been made in 1997, with an exaggerated horror movie plot and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role? Quite possibly. It can’t exactly get much worse. And besides, I’d rather have a cheesy 90s horror than an early 2000s misfire capitalising on over-sentimentality that takes itself too seriously.
8. Alien 3 (1992) — Writer: Vincent Ward.
While the final cut of Alien 3 was vastly different from the product David Fincher attempted to make, there was an original plan for a completely different film. If you look in the right place you can find original sketches and notes for Vincent Ward’s Alien 3, detailing a plot set on a wooden planet inhabited by monk like figures. It sounds incredible. A strange, science-fiction horror rich in religious imagery. Alas, Alien 3 remains the troublesome third installment after two masterpieces.
Of course there are countless examples that have grown infamous status in Hollywood as films that nearly happened. Cancelled sequels, reboots, spin offs, and even plans for a third Batman film from Joel Schumacher, with Courtney Love as Harley Quinn and Nicholas Cage as The Scarecrow. Our innate curiosity can’t help but wonder how each of these may have turned out. And undoubtedly there’s a part of everyone that wants to see the Kevin Smith scripted, Tim Burton directed Superman Lives with Nicholas Cage in the title role. And as much fun as it would have been to actually watch these films, there’s still a large amount of enjoyment to be found in researching the stories of films that never were.
Appreciate filmmaker’s visions, love the films we have, and respect the journey that brings them to the big screen.
