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Edgar Wright's unrealized projects

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The following is a list of unproduced Edgar Wright projects in roughly chronological order. During his career, British film director Edgar Wright has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, or would see life under a different production team.

2000s

From Dusk Till Shaun

The prospect of a sequel to Shaun of the Dead was first brought up on the commentary track for the film's home media release, with the proposed title From Dusk Till Shaun. Simon Pegg, star and co-writer of the film, stated in a 2017 interview that he had drawn up a treatment for a sequel, with Wright suggesting that vampires would replace zombies. However both men felt that the first film worked better as a stand-alone film, in addition to the events of the film making a sequel seem improbable.[1] A reference to the proposed sequel was made in the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.[2] In a 2021 interview with Total Film, Jessica Hynes revealed that a Yvonne of the Dead spin-off had been considered, set parallel with the events of Shaun of the Dead.[3]

Ant-Man

Main article: Ant-Man (film)

Wright had been developing a live-action film based on the Marvel Comics superhero Ant-Man with Joe Cornish since 2006.[4] However, on 23 May 2014, Wright and Marvel Studios issued a joint statement announcing that Wright would exit the movie due to creative differences.[5] According to Wright, he had been hired as writer-director but became unhappy when Marvel wanted to write a new script. In 2017, he said: "The most diplomatic answer is I wanted to make a Marvel movie but I don't think they really wanted to make an Edgar Wright movie ... having written all my other movies, that's a tough thing to move forward. Suddenly becoming a director for hire on it, you’re sort of less emotionally invested and you start to wonder why you’re there, really."[6] He was replaced by Peyton Reed as director, with Adam McKay and star Paul Rudd rewriting the screenplay. He and Cornish received both screenplay and story credits, with Wright also credited as executive producer.[7]

Don't

In April 2007, it was reported that Wright may expand Don't, a fake trailer he had made for Grindhouse, into a feature film.[8] According to Eli Roth, he and Wright have discussed the possibility of pairing Don't with Thanksgiving for a Grindhouse sequel. Roth is quoted as saying "We're talking to Dimension about it. I think they're still trying to figure out Grindhouse 1 before we think about Grindhouse 2, but I've already been working on the outline for it and I would do it in a heartbeat."[9] Nothing further on the idea had been announced since.

2010s

The Night Stalker

Wright had been hired by Disney in February 2012 to direct a feature film adaptation of the 1970s television series with Johnny Depp cast to play Carl Kolchak.[10] D.V. DeVincentis had been hired to write the screenplay in May 2012,[11] with the project still in active development by May 2014 and the project Wright was expected to begin work on after exiting his director position on Ant-Man.[12]

Collider

Wright was hired by Paramount Pictures in July 2012 to direct a science fiction film titled Collider, which he would co-write with Mark Protosevich as well as produce alongside J. J. Abrams and Nira Park.[13] No further announcements were made in the film past that point.

Grasshopper Jungle

In July 2014, Wright was announced as director of the film adaptation of Andrew Smith's novel Grasshopper Jungle for Sony Pictures.[14] However by March 2020 no further development on the film had been announced.

New Wright/Frost/Pegg Trilogy

On August 20, 2014, Wright and Simon Pegg said that they are trying to make a new movie trilogy that doesn’t continue the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy in the 2020’s starring Pegg and Nick Frost.[15] However by March 2020 no further development on the film had been announced.

Dodge and Twist

In January 2015, Wright submitted a re-write of the screenplay, which would see the story of Oliver Twist pick up twenty years later, where Twist would be a police officer tangling with a still active Artful Dodger. Ahmet Zappa would produce with Matt Tolmach, and actors Andrew Garfield and Eddie Redmayne were envisioned for the lead roles.[16]

Fortunately, The Milk

In October 2015, Wright was announced as director of the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel Fortunately, The Milk. The time-travel story will be a hybrid of live-action and animation. The film was to star Johnny Depp, with a screenplay co-written by Wright and Flight of the Conchords alumnus Bret McKenzie.[17]

Shadows

In November 2015, it was announced that Wright would direct and co-write with David Walliams a DreamWorks Animation film centered on "the concept of shadows", that has been in development since 2010. Shadows, as the film was known, was to be Wright's animation directorial debut. The film has been in development for a long time, changing directors. Mark Dindal, who created the film's original story, was involved between 2010 and 2012, was replaced by Alessandro Carloni from 2012 to 2015, and Wright is slated to develop the picture. Three drafts of the script were written but the project is on hold due to staff changes at DreamWorks leaving it in limbo.[18]

Baby Driver 2

Discussions of a sequel began in December 2017, with Wright announcing his intent to develop a script to the media.[19] The writer-director began drafting the screenplay in January 2019, introducing an ensemble of new characters to advance the story.[20] By July 2019, Wright had shown Elgort a copy of the completed script, currently under a tentative working title.[21] In January 2021, Wright confirmed that he had finished writing the sequel's script.[22]

2020s

Set My Heart to Five

In March 2020, it was announced that Wright would be directing an adaptation of the book Set My Heart To Five by Simon Stephenson, who would also have written the screenplay. The story follows an android dentist named Jared in the year 2054, as he undergoes an emotional awakening after he is introduced to the world of 80s and 90s movies. The film was set to be produced by Working Title Films and Focus Features.[23]

The Chain

In June 2020, Deadline Hollywood reported that Wright would direct an adaptation of the 2019 novel The Chain by Adrian McKinty for Universal Pictures, with the screenplay written by Jane Goldman.[24]

The Running Man remake

In February 2021, Wright signed on to direct Paramount Pictures' new film adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man, which would also be a remake of the 1987 film version. Wright and Michael Bacall planned to re-imagine the story for a new audience, with the latter writing the screenplay.[25]

Offers

Mission: Impossible 4

In March 2010, it was announced that Wright was offered the position to direct the fourth Mission: Impossible movie, which Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum have written the screenplay. The movie ended up as Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Brad Bird directed it.[26] [27]

References

  1. ^ Shaun of the Dead 2: Why The Vampire Sequel Never Happened
  2. ^ In the Spider-Verse, there's a Shaun Of The Dead sequel and a Clone High movie
  3. ^ Total Film – Interview with Jessica Stevenson – September 2021
  4. ^ Masters, Kim; Kit, Borys (May 28, 2014). "Why 'Ant-Man' Director Edgar Wright Exited Marvel's Superhero Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "MARVEL STUDIOS & EDGAR WRIGHT STATEMENT". Marvel. May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  6. ^ Tapley, Kristopher (June 22, 2017). "Playback: Edgar Wright on 'Baby Driver,' Music and Walking Away From 'Ant-Man'". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  7. ^ Rosen, Christopher (6 January 2015). "Watch The First Trailer For Marvel's 'Ant-Man' (It's Too Late To Change The Name)". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  8. ^ Yamato, Jen (April 7, 2007). "Edgar Wright's "Don't" Trailer Could Be "Grindhouse 2"". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  9. ^ RT-News (May 4, 2007). "Roth Wants Full Length "Thanksgiving" for "Grindhouse 3"". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on June 5, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  10. ^ Disney Taps Edgar Wright To Helm Johnny Depp In 'The Night Stalker' Feature Redo
  11. ^ D.V. DeVincentis Sinks Teeth Into 'The Night Stalker' For Edgar Wright And Johnny Depp
  12. ^ ‘Ant-Man’ / Edgar Wright Lessons: Kevin Feige’s Vision Rules Marvel; Time To Get Excited About ‘Kolchak: The Night Stalker’?
  13. ^ Edgar Wright To Direct Paramount's 'Collider,' Mark Protosevich To Write
  14. ^ "Edgar Wright to Direct 'Grasshopper Jungle' Movie for Sony". Deadline Hollywood. July 25, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  15. ^ Ritman, Alex (August 20, 2014). "Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright Eyeing New Film Trilogy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  16. ^ Edgar Wright Rewriting Steampunk ‘Oliver Twist’ Sequel ‘Dodge and Twist’
  17. ^ "Johnny Depp in Talks for Edgar Wright-Helmed Neil Gaiman adaptation". Variety. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "Edgar Wright & David Walliams' animated film in limbo". Denofgeek.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  19. ^ Hall, Jacob (December 5, 2017). "'Baby Driver' Sequel "Being Hammered Out," Edgar Wright Plans to Write the Screenplay". /Film. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  20. ^ Travis, Ben; Nugent, John (January 21, 2019). "Edgar Wright's Next Film Is A Psychological Horror, Plus Baby Driver 2 Update – Exclusive". Empire. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Chitwood, Adam (July 30, 2019). "Ansel Elgort and Edgar Wright Tease 'Baby Driver 2' Likely Happening Soon". Collider. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  22. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (January 30, 2021). "Edgar Wright confirms 'Baby Driver 2' script is complete". NME. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "Edgar Wright to Tackle Robot Story 'Set My Heart to Five'". The Hollywood Reporter. March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  24. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 18, 2020). "Universal Acquires Adrian McKinty Novel 'The Chain,' With Edgar Wright Directing & Jane Goldman Writing". Deadline. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (February 19, 2021). "Edgar Wright To Direct Stephen King's 'The Running Man' At Paramount Pictures; Simon Kinberg's Genre Films Producing".
  26. ^ Kit, Borys (March 24, 2010). ""Incredibles" director on "Mission: Impossible" list". Reuters. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  27. ^ Rosenberg, Adam (March 25, 2010). "'Mission: Impossible 4' Possible Directors Include Brad Bird, Edgar Wright And Ruben Fleischer". MTV News. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
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