Kathryn Bigelow's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Kathryn Bigelow projects in roughly chronological order. During her long career, film director Kathryn Bigelow has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under her direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.
1980s
[edit]New Rose Hotel
[edit]The Los Angeles Times reported in 1988 that Bigelow was slated to direct the film adaptation of William Gibson's short story "New Rose Hotel" for producer Edward R. Pressman.[1]
Wolverine and the X-Men
[edit]Around 1989, Stan Lee and Chris Claremont entered in talks with Carolco Pictures and Lightstorm Entertainment to make a film adaptation of the X-Men comic book series, with Bigelow as director, James Cameron producing and Gary Goldman as writer.[2] Bob Hoskins was slated to star as Wolverine[3] and Angela Bassett was attached to star as Storm.[4] [5] However, the project entered into development hell, which led to Cameron's involvement on the long planned Spider-Man film as well as the demise of Carolco Pictures.[5] The film was finally released in 2000 with Bryan Singer as director.
1990s
[edit]The Company of Angels
[edit]On October 6, 1992, Bigelow was attached to direct and produce the period piece The Company of Angels through Carolco and Lightstorm Entertainment, with Winona Ryder officially attached to portray Joan of Arc and Warner Bros. distributing.[6] However, the project entered into development hell and Luc Besson used this movie's funds to make The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc instead.[7]
Custer Marching to Valhalla
[edit]On November 5, 1997, it was reported that Bigelow was signed by New Line Cinema as the director of Custer Marching to Valhalla, an epic based on Michael Blake's novel about the rise and fall of General George Armstrong Custer. Blake would have developed and written the screenplay for Bigelow to direct.[8]
Ohio
[edit]In the late 1990s, Bigelow developed a project for Universal Pictures titled Ohio, which was projected as a film about the 1970 Kent State shooting, and the killings of four students.[8]
2000s
[edit]Paycheck
[edit]In the early 2000s, Bigelow considered directing the film Paycheck based on the 1953 short story by Philip K. Dick.[9]
The Devil in the White City
[edit]On April 8, 2003, it was announced that Bigelow would direct and produce the film adaptation of Erik Larson's novel The Devil in the White City with Tom Cruise as H. H. Holmes for Paramount Pictures, however this attempt fell through.[10][11]
The Inside TV pilot
[edit]On September 25, 2003, Bigelow was set to direct the pilot episode written by Todd and Glen Kesser, based on Mark Boal's Playboy article about a 23-year-old woman who posed as a 16-year-old student to infiltrate a drug ring, through Imagine Television for Fox, which would become The Inside.[12]
Triple Frontier
[edit]On August 9, 2009, Bigelow was interested in directing Mark Boal's action thriller script Triple Frontier, an ensemble project based on an idea Bigelow and Boal had, with Charles Roven, Alex Gartner and Steve Alexander attached to produce through Atlas Entertainment for Paramount Pictures.[13] Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp entered talks for the project in October 2010.[14][15] Bigelow eventually departed the film, with J. C. Chandor closing a deal to replace her as director in September 2015.[16]The film would eventually be released on Netflix on March 13, 2019.
2010s
[edit]Held by the Taliban
[edit]On January 15, 2010, Bigelow was interested in directing Held by the Taliban, a biopic about the kidnapping of David Rohde with Stephen Belber writing the script and Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy attached to produce, but later that same day, Terrence Malick was set to direct another biopic which inspired a duel between the filmmakers.[17][18]
The Miraculous Year TV series
[edit]On February 14, 2010, Bigelow was set to produce John Logan's Broadway composer series The Miraculous Year for HBO, as well as direct the pilot episode.[19] In June later that same year, Norbert Leo Butz, Hope Davis, Frank Langella and Patti LuPone were in talks to star in the series, as well as Eddie Redmayne,[20] and in July, Susan Sarandon, Linus Roache, Stark Sands, Elaine Cassidy, Remy Nozik, Logan Georges, Lee Pace, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Giancarlo Esposito, Karine Plantadit, Andre Ward, Erik Altemus, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Daniel Davis were also cast.[21] On November 9, 2010, it was announced HBO would not be moving forward with the series.[22]
The True American
[edit]On May 14, 2014, Bigelow was set to direct and produce the biographical film adaptation of Anand Giridharadas' novel The True American with Matthew Budman attached as executive producer for Annapurna Pictures and Tom Hardy attached to portray Mark Stroman.[23] On April 4, 2017, Pablo Larrain was set to direct the film adaptation instead of Bigelow.[24]
Untitled Bowe Bergdahl biopic
[edit]On June 16, 2014, Bigelow was interested in directing a biopic about Bowe Bergdahl with Mark Boal writing the screenplay for Annapurna Pictures, while later that same day, Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired the rights to Michael Hastings' article about Bergdahl, "America's Last Prisoner Of War", with Todd Field attached to that project.[25] On January 17, 2015, Bigelow's biopic supposedly won the duel with Searchlight, but Bigelow and Boal ended up making Detroit instead.[26]
Mogadishu, Minnesota TV series
[edit]On December 11, 2015, Bigelow was set to produce K'naan Warsame's jihadi recruitment drama series The Recruiters for HBO.[27] On June 6, 2016, HBO ordered a pilot for the series, which would focus on a Somali immigrant family and was retitled Mogadishu, Minnesota.[28] On September 1, 2017, it was announced HBO would not be picking up the series.[29]
2020s
[edit]Aurora
[edit]In March 2022, it was announced that Bigelow would direct an adaptation of David Koepp's book, Aurora for Netflix, with Koepp writing the script.[30] In April 2024, The New York Times reported the film was not moving forward at Netflix, and Bigelow had departed the project months ago.[31]
Offers
[edit]The Amazing Spider-Man
[edit]On March 9, 2010, Bigelow was offered to direct The Amazing Spider-Man, but turned it down.[32][33]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
[edit]Bigelow was one of several directors who was courted to direct the reboot of Planet of the Apes, but ultimately turned it down.[34][35]
Tomb Raider
[edit]On September 16, 2015, Bigelow was rumored to direct the reboot of the Tomb Raider film series, which became the 2018 film Tomb Raider, which was directed by Roar Uthaug.[36]
References
[edit]- ^ Taylor, Clarke (October 9, 1988). "Black-Leather Director in a Business World : Cult Favorite Kathryn Bigelow Brings Her 'Dark' Style to an Action Film". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "The X-Men Movies You Never Saw". Den of Geek. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Hoskins Was 'X-Men' Writer's First Choice for Wolverine". The Wrap. 30 April 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Chris Claremont On James Cameron's Abandoned 'X-Men' Film & Bob Hoskins as Wolverine". Screen Rant. 26 March 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Chris Claremont's Dream X-Men Movie: James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, and Bob Hoskins as Wolverine". The Wrap. 25 March 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Eller, Claudia (October 6, 1992). "WB, Hughes tune up for 'Pajama Game' remake". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (July 28, 2017). "The Lost Projects: 15 Movies Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and More Auteurs Never Made". IndieWire. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Cox, Dan (November 5, 1997). "Bigelow pulls 'Custer' duty". Variety. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ McNary, Dave (October 21, 2002). "Woo eyes Par 'Paycheck'". Variety. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Bing, Jonathan; Dave McNary (April 8, 2003). "All's fair in race to make killer bios". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Staff and Agencies (April 10, 2003). "Cruise and DiCaprio chase same killer". The Guardian. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Schneider, Michael; Adalian, Josef (September 25, 2003). "Fox net goes undercover". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ McNary, Dave (August 9, 2009). "Bigelow, Boal reteam for 'Frontier'". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2010-10-06). "Tom Hanks Mulls Kathryn Bigelow Pic Offer". Deadline. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2010-10-06). "Johnny Depp In 'Triple Frontier' Talks With Paramount Pictures And Kathryn Bigelow". Deadline. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (2015-10-01). "J.C. Chandor Closes Deal To Direct 'Triple Frontier' At Paramount". Deadline. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (January 15, 2010). "HURT LOCKER Director Kathryn Bigelow to Head Back to the Middle East for HELD BY THE TALIBAN". Collider. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (January 15, 2010). "Like Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick also Wants to Develop HELD BY THE TALIBAN". Collider. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Duboff, Josh (June 6, 2016). "Bigelow's Next Project Is Miraculous". Vulture. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2014). "5 Actors In Talks For John Logan/ Kathryn Bigelow HBO Pilot 'Miraculous Year'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2016). "Susan Sarandon In HBO 'Miraculous Year'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 9, 2010). "'Miraculous Year' Not Going Forward At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ The Deadline Team (May 14, 2014). "Tom Hardy To Star In Kathryn Bigelow's Post-9/11 Tale 'The True American'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (April 4, 2017). "Pablo Larraín to Direct 'The True American' Starring Tom Hardy". Collider. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 16, 2014). "UPDATE: Todd Field, Searchlight Jump Into Bowe Bergdahl Fray After 'Zero Dark Thirty' Filmmakers Stake Out Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Bart, Peter; Mike Fleming Jr. (January 17, 2014). "Bart & Fleming: 'Sniper' Sparks War-Film Hunger; Kathryn Bigelow Zeroes In On Bowe Bergdahl; Fat-Bottomed Girls; Jim Cameron Throws Darts At Peter Bart". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Leslie (June 6, 2016). "Kathryn Bigelow Prepping Jihadi Recruitment Drama for HBO (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2016). "HBO Orders Drama Pilots From Adam McKay & Kathryn Bigelow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 1, 2017). "'Mogadishu, Minnesota' Pilot From K'naan Warsame & Kathryn Bigelow Not Going Forward At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (2022-03-31). "Kathryn Bigelow To Direct Adaptation Of David Koepp Novel 'Aurora' For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (April 14, 2024). "Netflix's New Film Strategy: More About the Audience, Less About Auteurs". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Zeitchik, Steven (March 9, 2010). "Kathryn Bigelow turned down 'Spider-Man,' and other Oscar-winner project tidbits". The LA Times. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (March 10, 2010). "Kathryn Bigelow 'turned down Spider-Man'". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Toro, Gabe. "'Planet of the Apes' Prequel Is Directorial Hot Potato: Bigelow, Rodriguez, Others Turn Project Down". The Playlist. The Playlist. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ B., Brian. "Fox Still Desperately Trying to Re-Boot Planet of the Apes with a Prequel". MovieWeb. MovieWeb. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ Lyons, Josh (September 16, 2015). "{Exclusive} RUMOR: Kathryn Bigelow, Mimi Leder, And Catherine Hardwicke On "Tomb Raider" Directors Shortlist". The Tracking Board. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
