This is a list of unmade and unreleased animated projects by Sony Pictures Animation. Some of these films were, or still are, in development limbo. These also include the co-productions the studio collaborated with in the past (i.e Aardman Animations).
In 2002, when Sony Pictures Animation opened its doors, writers Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman pitched two separate untitled animated projects to the studio.[1] However, nothing came through and both projects were scrapped. Also, none of them have other details, such as the plot.
2003
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Tam Lin
In May 2003, Sony Pictures Animation announced an adaptation of the Scottish fairy tale Tam Lin was being directed by Roger Allers and Brenda Chapman,[2] but one year later, Allers was later moved to co-direct Open Season while Chapman moved to Pixar to co-direct Brave.[3]
Feature film and television series
The ChubbChubbs!
A feature-length animated film and a television series based on the short The ChubbChubbs! were in development in 2003, at Sony Pictures Animation.[4][5] That same year in October, Dan Wilson and Dave Gilbreth had been hired to write the film's screenplay.[6]
2005
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Neanderthals
In October 2005, it was announced that Jon Favreau would direct and produce an animated film based on his original concept that was to take place in pre-historic times.[7] In January 2008, Favreau told MTV News that he was ready to begin work on the project and was optimistic to do motion capture animation tests before the 2007–08 writers' strike.[8] As of 2010, some concept art was shown online.[9]
2008
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Pooch Café
In January 2008, Pooch Café author Paul Gilligan revealed on his website that Sony Pictures Animation has signed to make a computer-animated feature film based on the Pooch Café strip.[10] Gilligan then wrote several story treatments and screenplay drafts.[11][12][13][14] In October 2011, it was announced that Kelly Asbury had been hired to write the next script draft.[15][16] In April 2013, on a Twitter Q/A session, Gilligan responded to a question whether there will be a Pooch Cafe film: "Alas, Poncho's movie plans got scuttled by a certain director who I won't bother naming..."[17][18]
In May 2010, it was reported that Sony Pictures Animation was to develop a film adaptation of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, with filmmaker Harald Zwart executive producing and possibly directing.[21]
Feature film
Futuropolis
In December 2010, Sony Pictures Animation had entered a four-picture deal with Gotham Group beginning with an animated feature film. Based on his original story, Stephan Franck was attached to direct and David Reynolds was to write the script.[22]
Feature film
Popeye
In March 2010, it was reported that Sony Pictures Animation was developing a 3D computer-animated Popeye film, with Avi Arad producing it.[23] In November 2011, Sony Pictures Animation announced that Jay Scherick and David Ronn, the writers of The Smurfs, were writing the screenplay for the film.[24] In June 2012, it was reported that Genndy Tartakovsky had been set to direct the feature,[25] which he planned to make "as artful and unrealistic as possible."[26] In November 2012, Sony Pictures Animation set the release date for September 26, 2014,[27] which was, in May 2013, pushed back to 2015.[28] In March 2014, Sony Pictures Animation updated its slate, scheduling the film for 2016, and announcing Tartakovsky as the director of Hotel Transylvania 2, which he was directing concurrently with Popeye.[29] On September 18, 2014, Tartakovsky revealed an "animation test" footage, about which he said, "It's just something that kind of represents what we want to do. I couldn't be more excited by how it turned out."[30] In March 2015, despite the well-received test footage, it was announced that the film would not released in 2016 because Tartakovsky left from working on the project, and would instead direct Can You Imagine?, which was based on his own original idea, but it was scrapped.[31][32] In January 2016, it was announced that T.J. Fixman would write the film.[33] As of 2020, the project is in development at King Features Syndicate.[34]
Feature film
The Familiars
In September 2010, it was revealed that Sony Pictures Animation will adapt The Familiars into a 3D animated feature film, with Doug Sweetland set to direct it. According to the books' authors, the film was scheduled to be released in 2014 but was cancelled. Fergal Reilly joined Sweetland to co-direct the film, but in 2013, he left to co-direct The Angry Birds Movie. In January 2013, when it was announced that Sweetland will direct a 2015 film for Warner Bros. (that would eventually become Storks from Warner Animation Group in 2016), Sony Pictures Animation responded that "The Familiars is cancelled." Epstein and Jacobson said in September 2013 in an interview." In March 2016, Adam Jay Epstein confirmed that the film will be made at another studio.
2011
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Untitled Lima/Sussman Project
On January 20, 2011, it was announced that Enchanted creative team Kevin Lima and David Sussman would produce a live-action/animated project for Sony Pictures Animation. Sussman would write the film, and Lima would direct and produce the film.[35]
Feature film
Muncle Trogg
In March 2011, Sony Pictures Animation had acquired the movie rights to Janet Foxley's children’s book Muncle Trogg. The story is set in a community of giants who live a volcano and centers on a tiny giant (which makes him human-sized) laughed at for his size. He ends up saving his family in a story that involves a solar-powered dragon, a disgraced brother and a kidnapped child. Jane Startz was set to executive produce, while Kane Lee would produce the project.[36]
Feature film
How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack
In 2011, Sony Pictures Animation announced they were going to make their first R-rated project, which was an adaptation of Chuck Sambuchino's book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will). It would have been produced by Robert Zemeckis.[37]
Feature film
Instant Karma
Sony Pictures Animation had picked up the rights to Instant Karma, a comedy fantasy from Paul Hernandez, who wrote the script and was attached to direct what would be a live-action/CGI hybrid, in April 2011.[38] The tale follows a misguided safecracker from New Orleans through his life lessons from a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. As the hero does good deeds to improve his karma, he moves up the food chain through a variety of animals, such as a frog, raccoon and dog, trying to get back to his human body and the woman he loves.
Feature film
Chickenhare
In July 2011, it was announced that Sony Pictures Animation and Dark Horse Comics are adapting the Chickenhare series into an animated feature film.[39] In October 2012, Grine wrote on the official Chickenhare Facebook page: "Read the screenplay last night. It's quite a bit different from the source material, but that doesn't mean it wasn't terrific! I honestly enjoyed it. Now let's hope it stays on course!"[40] In June 2013, he wrote: "Finally got to read the 2nd draft of the Chickenhare screenplay. Man, if this thing makes it to the big screen, you guys in are in for a treat! It's SO full of adventure and laughs I almost can't believe it. Let's all cross our fingers."[41] In January 2016, Grine wrote on his Twitter profile that the film had been cancelled.[42]
Sequel to The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
By August 2011, Aardman Animations had been already working on a sequel idea for The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!,[43] and by June 2012, a story had been prepared, awaiting Sony to back the project.[44] Eventually, Sony decided not to support the project due to insufficient international earnings. According to director Peter Lord, "it got close, but not quite close enough. I was all fired up for doing more. It was such fun to do! We actually have a poster for The Pirates! In an Adventure with Cowboys!. That would have been just great."[45]
By May 10, 2012, just two weeks after production of The Smurfs 2 was announced, Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures had been already developing a script for The Smurfs 3, with writers Karey Kirkpatrick and Chris Poche.[46]Hank Azaria, who played the live-action Gargamel, said that the third film "might actually deal with the genuine origin of how all these characters ran into each other way back when."[47] In March 2014, Sony announced that it would be rebooting the series with a completely computer-animated film, which eventually became Smurfs: The Lost Village, released in April 2017.[48]
In 2012, Deadline reported that Kelly Asbury was in the talks with Sony Pictures Animation to make an animated fantasy film titled Kazorn & The Unicorn. It would've followed the adventures of a young man and a unicorn as he seeks to locate a powerful weapon and prove his worth to his true love. Lloyd Taylor was writing the screenplay. Sam Raimi, Josh Donen and Russell Hollander were producing.[50] Troy Quane was joined in to co-direct the film with Asbury.[51]
Feature film
ALF
On May 21, 2012, Paul Fusco said he was pitching an ALF movie.[52] In August 2012, it was reported that Sony Pictures Animation has acquired the rights to ALF and will develop the property into a CGI-live action hybrid film. The Smurfs producer Jordan Kerner was to produce the film, along with Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco.[53]
In March 2014, it was announced that Hotel Transylvania director Genndy Tartakovsky was working on an animated film titled Can You Imagine?.[57] The project was to tell "a fantastic journey through one boy's imagination."[58] However, in July 2017, it was quietly announced that the project was cancelled.[59][60]
Feature film
Medusa
In June 2014, Sony Pictures Animation announced that Lauren Faust would direct an animated comedy feature film titled Medusa, which was based on a pitch from Todd Alcott and Holly Golden. The film would tell a new story about the character of the same name from Greek mythology, in which she sets out on a quest to revert the curse she earned from a jealous goddess.[61] In November 2015, Faust announced that she was no longer involved with the project or with Sony.[62]
Feature film
Superbago
In 2014, Sony Pictures Animation was working on a live-action/stop-motion film titled Superbago, with Robot Chicken executive producers John Harvatine and Eric Towner directing, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jared Hess and Eric Robinson producing, and Hess, Ricky Blitt, Hubbel Palmer and Chris Bowman writing the script, which was to center on a pair of superhero wannabes.[63] In June 2019, it was announced it would be turned into a TV series instead.[64]
In December 2014, information leaked that Sony Pictures had made a deal with Nintendo to create an animated film based on the Mario franchise.[65] However, the project never went into development. In November 2017, it was reported that Nintendo would be teaming up with Universal Pictures and Illumination to make the animated Mario movie.[66][67][68] The movie would later be confirmed by the end of January 2018,[69] with a tentative release date of 2022.[70]
An animated feature film based on Playmobil, the film originally involved Bob Persichetti as director and screenwriter. Persichetti initially pitched the film to Sony Pictures Animation. Although Sony tried to buy the pitch, it fell through. He was eventually offered instead to direct the 2018 superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.[71] The film later moved to On Animation Studios for a 2019 release.