James Gunn's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced James Gunn projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director James Gunn has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these productions fell in development hell or were cancelled.[1][2]
1990s[edit]
Gilligan's Island[edit]
In the late 1990s, Gunn and Charlie Kaufman attempted to make a film adaptation of the 1960s television series Gilligan's Island, but as a cannibal film. Although the project was supported by Warner Bros., the film was never made because Sherwood Schwartz, who created the show, disapproved.[3][4][5]
Silver Surfer[edit]
In 1999, an executive from 20th Century Fox offered to hire Gunn to write and direct a film about the Marvel Comics superhero Silver Surfer.[1]
Spy vs. Spy[edit]
Also in 1999, Gunn wrote an unproduced screenplay adaptation of Spy vs. Spy. According to Gunn, Jay Roach was to have directed and Nicolas Cage and Eddie Murphy were to have starred.[6][7]
2000s[edit]
Scooby Doo 3[edit]
Gunn was to have helmed Scooby Doo 3, which would have been the third film of Scooby-Doo (2002). However, due to the critical and financial failure of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), Warner Bros. cancelled the project.[2]
Creature from the Black Lagoon remake[edit]
In 2004, Gunn pitched to Universal Pictures his screenplay that was intended to be a remake of the 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon, but the studio turned down the pitch.[2]
Pets[edit]
In 2007, it was reported that Gunn was to write and direct a comedy film for New Regency titled Pets, with Ben Stiller serving as one of the producers.[1][8]Gunn left the project due to creative differences.[1][9]
The Belko Experiment[edit]
2010s[edit]
It's Alive remake[edit]
Larry Cohen said in a 2017 interview that Gunn had approached him for permission to make a remake of his 1974 film It's Alive. According to Cohen, Gunn "couldn't raise enough money to buy the rights. I'm sorry today I didn't give them to him."[10]
Starsky & Hutch TV continuation[edit]
On August 31, 2017, Gunn was set to direct and co-write a dramatic continuation of Starsky & Hutch with his brother Brian & cousin Mark Gunn as co-writers for Prime Video.[11] On July 24, 2018, an Amazon Studios spokesperson revealed on Yahoo! Finance that the series was cancelled months before Gunn was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[12]
Ravagers TV spinoff[edit]
In August 2017, Gunn said that he was in talks with Marvel Studios to make a Ravagers spinoff series.[13][14]
2020s[edit]
Coyote vs. Acme[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Accardo, Brian (September 23, 2023). "Every Unmade James Gunn Movie We'll Never See". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c Williams, Jordan (September 19, 2021). "Every Unmade James Gunn Movie (Including Scooby-Doo 3)". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (October 14, 2021). "James Gunn and Charlie Kaufman Almost Made a Cannibalistic 'Gilligan's Island' Movie". IndieWire. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Plant, Logan (October 13, 2021). "James Gunn Tried To Make a Gilligan's Island Reboot With Cannibals". IGN. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Zinski, Dan (October 13, 2021). "James Gunn Pitched A Gilligan's Island Movie With A Cannibal Twist". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Patterson, Adreon (May 1, 2020). "James Gunn Shares Details About His Insane Spy Vs. Spy Script". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Fisher, Kieran (May 1, 2020). "The History of the 'Spy vs Spy' Movie". Film School Rejects. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Orange, B. Alan (September 21, 2007). "James Gunn Has Pets". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Riley, Jenelle (August 1, 2014). "Q&A: 'Guardians' Director Calls New, Big Budget Career in Hollywood 'Orgasmic'". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Winfrey, Graham (May 4, 2017). "Larry Cohen, a Horror Hero For James Wan and Eli Roth, Reveals Why He Doesn't Watch Scary Movies and Hates Remakes". IndieWire. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 31, 2017). "James Gunn's 'Starsky and Hutch' TV Reboot Lands at Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ Roberts, Daniel (July 24, 2018). "Exclusive: Amazon says James Gunn 'Starsky and Hutch' reboot is off". Yahoo!. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ Foutch, Haleigh (August 31, 2017). "James Gunn Talks 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Filming Plans, Title, and More". Collider. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ Gribben, Sean (August 7, 2021). "James Gunn Has Pitched a GOTG TV Spinoff Starring the Ravagers". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
