During his long career, American filmmakerSteven Spielberg has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into "development hell" or were officially canceled, some were turned over to other production teams, and others never made it past the speculative stage.
In 1966, Spielberg took an interest in directing Claudia Salter's screenplayA Wooden Nickel, which was sold toUniversal Pictures, but at the time he was only 20 years old and no studio would hire him.[1]
In February 1969, it was reported that a young Spielberg was hired by producerDick Berg to direct a "modern retelling" ofSnow White forUniversal Pictures, based on astory byDonald Barthelme published inThe New Yorker in 1967. This version was to be set in aChinese food factory, and feature the title character "[sharing] herSan Francisco apartment with seven young men while waiting for her prince to show up."[2] In the 1970s, he pitched the property again to Universal, alongsideAce Eli and Rodger of the Skies and theThomas Crapper biopic, but it failed to materialize.[3][4]
In addition to Barthelme'sSnow White, another project Spielberg flirted with directing as his feature debut was a love story calledWinkler.[5]
In 1969, Spielberg teamed with comedy writerCarl Gottlieb to pitch aWorld War I aircraft flying film toWarner Bros., but the deal fell through due to Spielberg's young age. Still intrigued by the prospect of making abarnstorming film, Spielberg enlisted Claudia Salter to help him conceive a father-son story, which would become the basis forAce Eli and Rodger of the Skies.[1] When the screenplay was finished, Spielberg sent it to20th Century Fox presidentRichard D. Zanuck, who wanted to buy the property but would also decline to hire him to direct it. By 1970, following Zanuck's departure from the studio, Fox announced that Spielberg would directAce Eli, withJoe Wizan producing. A year later,Robert Fryer took over as producer and replaced Spielberg withJohn Erman.[6][7] The film originally ended with the character Eli committing suicide, but the studio recut it to give it a happier ending and shelved it for two years. Unhappy with the final film, Salter, Erman and the producers had their names removed from the credits. Spielberg was so displeased when he finally saw it that he publicly complained it had been "turned into a really sick film. They should bury it."
At the beginning of the 1970s, Spielberg tried to convinceUniversal Pictures togreenlight the production ofFlushed with Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper, the semi-satirical biography ofThomas Crapper, who, as the book suggested,[4] invented theflushing toilet. Spielberg approached screenwritersGloria Katz andWillard Huyck to write the script.[3]
Around 1971, actor Joseph Walsh wroteCalifornia Split, a screenplay about his owngambling addiction which he developed with Spielberg at his home for eight months.[8] At this time, the screenplay was calledSlide[9] and Spielberg had a deal to direct it atMGM with Walsh as producer andSteve McQueen starring in the role whichElliott Gould would later play.[10] However, studio headJim Aubrey wanted them to change it to "a straight movie", demanding it be retitledLucky Chip and forDean Martin to be the star of it.[8] Walsh and Spielberg left MGM and took the script toUniversal Pictures where they had an agreement withRichard D. Zanuck andDavid Brown. Zanuck and Brown then hired Spielberg to directThe Sugarland Express, leavingRobert Altman to take his place. Spielberg later told Walsh, "I would have definitely made more money with this film [thanSugarland]. But I could never have made a better picture."[9]
Before choosingThe Sugarland Express, Spielberg considered directing theBurt Reynolds vehicleWhite Lightning as his first theatrical release.[11] "I spent two-and-a-half months on the film," Spielberg explained, "met Burt once, found most of the locations and began to cast the movie, until I realized it wasn't something that I wanted to do for a first film. I didn't want to start my career as a hard-hat, journeyman director. I wanted to do something that was a little more personal."[12][13]
In the early 1970s, film producerPhilip D'Antoni hired Spielberg to direct a film adaptation ofGerald Walker's novelCruising.[14] Spielberg was reportedly attached to the project for three years before officially dropping out.[15] According to D'Antoni, "We just couldn't come up with a script that met with my satisfaction... So we decided to abandon the project, and figured we'd go on to do something else together some other day, and Steven went back to L.A."[14] Thefilm adaptation was eventually directed byWilliam Friedkin.[16]
Michael Crichton initially wrote a screenplay for a film about anemergency room, and met with Spielberg in 1974, with Spielberg intended to direct. The film would be shelved until the 1990s, when Crichton and Spielberg revisited it and both concluded it would work better as a television series, which debuted in 1994.[17]
Spielberg was considered to directLucky Lady for20th Century Fox. The script was written byWillard Huyck andGloria Katz, andPaul Newman was to have starred in the film had Spielberg directed. However, Spielberg could not direct the film due to his commitment withJaws.[13][18][19]
In 1975, it was reported that Spielberg had agreed to directThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings forUniversal Pictures, and planned to join screenwritersHal Barwood andMatthew Robbins in a meeting with producerRob Cohen. Spielberg would depart from the film several months later due to post-production obligations onJaws.John Badham took his place and made his feature directorial debut with the film.[20][21]
Around 1975, after the success ofJaws,Alexander Salkind and his sonIlya wanted to hire Spielberg to directSuperman, the first theatrical movie based on theSuperman comic book series. However, due to Spielberg's commitment toClose Encounters of the Third Kind, the Salkinds finally hiredRichard Donner to direct the film.[22]
In 1975, Spielberg calledAlbert R. Broccoli offering to directThe Spy Who Loved Me, but was turned down. In 1978, after the successful release ofClose Encounters of the Third Kind, he offered to direct a second time onMoonraker. Afterwards, he became uninterested in directing anyJames Bond films.[23]
Spielberg's follow-up toJaws was almost an adaptation ofJohn Lee's then newly publishedWWII thriller novelThe Ninth Man, which was inspired by the true events of eightNazi saboteurs who landed by submarine and were captured onLong Island in 1942, with the ninth man managing to escape. FilmmakerTodd Field later revived the project in 2004 and had sought to direct it throughDreamWorks.[24]
The Adventures of Indiana Smith: In May 1977, Spielberg met his colleagueGeorge Lucas inHawaii. During that vacation, Lucas convinced Spielberg to make a film based on thefilm serials of the 1930s and 1940s. Lucas previously wrote a script for the planned film, entitledThe Adventures of Indiana Smith; in which the main character, Indiana Smith, was based onJames Bond.[25] However, at the final moment, both Lucas and Spielberg made many changes to the script, whose concept was used to createRaiders of the Lost Ark, and subsequently, theIndiana Jones film franchise.
Indiana Jones and the Monkey King: In September 1984, after the critical mixed reception ofIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,George Lucas wrote a script entitledIndiana Jones and the Monkey King for the third installment of the film series.[26] The film had theFountain of Youth as theMacGuffin. Spielberg was attached to direct, but at the final moment, Spielberg decided to hireChris Columbus to rewrite the script, and the third film ended up beingIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade.[27]
Indiana Jones and the Saucermen from Mars: In 1995, a time after the cancellation ofThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles,Jeb Stuart wrote a script for the fourth film in theIndiana Jones film series, entitledIndiana Jones and the Saucermen from Mars.[28] Spielberg was supposed to direct it, whileGeorge Lucas was supposed to serve as producer. Although Lucas loved the script, Spielberg and Ford had issues with it, so Spielberg hiredIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade writerJeffrey Boam to make a rewrite of Stuart's script. However, the script was finally rejected after the release ofIndependence Day, which was released one year later. The fourth film, entitledIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was finally released in 2008.
Indiana Jones and the City of Gods: On May 17, 2002,IGN reported thatThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles writerFrank Darabont would write the fourth film of theIndiana Jones franchise,[29] entitledIndiana Jones and the City of Gods,[30] in which ex-Nazis would chase Indiana Jones. The script is very similar to the final script, including Indy's and Marion's wedding and a scene with army ants, but it did not include Indiana Jones' son. Spielberg liked the script very much, butGeorge Lucas disliked it, and for that reason, he hiredDavid Koepp to write the film. The film ended up beingIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was released in 2008, with Spielberg returning as director.
Indiana Jones 5: On February 26, 2020, it was reported that Spielberg chose not to directthe fifthIndiana Jones film, as he wanted to "pass along Indy's whip to a new generation to bring their perspective to the story".James Mangold took over as director, with Spielberg remaining involved in the film as an executive producer, while Ford starred as Jones.[31]
In late 1977, after the successful reception ofClose Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg expressed interest in filming asequel or a prequel. However, he later refused the idea, because he felt that "the army's knowledge and ensuingcover-up is so subterranean that it would take a creative screen story, perhaps someone else making the picture and giving it the equal time it deserves". He also did not want developerColumbia Pictures to make a sequel without him, which had happened withUniversal Pictures'Jaws.[32]
After his decision not to make a sequel toClose Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg started the development of his next project, ascience fictionhorror film entitledNight Skies, whose concept was pitched by him during the development ofClose Encounters. The film was intended to be a spiritualfollow-up toClose Encounters.[33]Lawrence Kasdan was attached to write the screenplay. The film was never made, although elements of it inspired two other Spielberg films:Poltergeist andE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (although the first was not directed by Spielberg).[34]
In the late 1970s, Spielberg approachedRobert Zemeckis andBob Gale, whose script1941 he was already preparing to shoot, to write for him a small, low-budget film about his youth inArizona that he could quickly make before embarking on1941. Announced in 1978 as "a personal story of his own young adulthood", their script was a foul-mouthed,R-rated comedy about 12-year-olds then calledAfter School, which Spielberg approved of. "I don't want to make a movie about children that's dimples or cuteness," he said at the time. "It's my firstvendetta film. I'm going to get back at about twenty people I've always wanted to get back at". The film (retitled at some point toClearwater, and finallyGrowing Up), was set to shoot in May 1978 with a budget of just $1.5 million, but when cinematographerCaleb Deschanel called the script "disgusting", Spielberg backed out of the project.[35][4]
In the late 1970s, Spielberg expressed interest in directing a film adaptation ofWilliam Goldman's novelMagic and considered castingRobert De Niro for the lead role.[36][37] Thefilm ended up being directed byRichard Attenborough and Spielberg admitted, "...I went to see the picture and realized that it was a hell of a lot better than what I would have done."[38]
In the late 1970s, Spielberg expressed interest in filmingRay Bradbury's storySomething Wicked This Way Comes, whichwould eventually be directed byJack Clayton, throughDisney in 1983.[39]
In the early 1980s, Spielberg announced that he had plans to direct a film adaptation of theBlackhawk comic book series.Dan Aykroyd was attached to play Blackhawk.[40] However, the project never materialized and Spielberg chose to directRaiders of the Lost Ark. In April 2018, new development emerged when it was announced that Spielberg would produce/direct a new film adaptation ofBlackhawk forWarner Bros., with the screenplay being written byDavid Koepp. Spielberg would also co-produce the film withKristie Macosko Krieger and Sue Kroll.[41][42][4]
In 2021, a fan unearthed a now deletedInstagram post from David Koepp stating that the film was still in development and that Spielberg was still attached. The title at that time wasBlackhawks.[43]
Around 1980, during the filming ofRaiders of the Lost Ark, Spielberg contactedGary David Goldberg to make a semi-autobiographical musical film entitledReel to Reel. The film's plot would have been surrounding a filmmaker named Stuart Moss, and his direction of a musical remake ofInvaders From Mars.[44] The film was officially announced in production in 1983, but Spielberg finally abandoned the project and chose to directIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.[4] According to theLos Angeles Times, the film was to have been directed byMichael Cimino and distributed byColumbia Pictures.[45]
After he finishedRaiders of the Lost Ark, Spielberg almost planned to direct the comedyThree Amigos next, withSteve Martin,Bill Murray andRobin Williams as the leads. He chose to directE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial instead.[46][47]
Spielberg has made several attempts to make a film adaptation ofStephen King andPeter Straub's 1984 novelThe Talisman ever since he and Universal Pictures bought the film rights in 1982.[48][49] In the mid-2000s, Spielberg almost adaptedThe Talisman into a six-hour miniseries forTNT.[50]
In July 1982, Spielberg hiredE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial writerMelissa Mathison to write a script for a sequel film, entitledE.T. II: Nocturnal Fears.[51] The film's plot would have shown Elliott and his friends getting abducted by evil aliens and follow their attempts to contact E.T. for help. However, Spielberg finally decided to cancel the sequel's production, feeling it "would do nothing but rob the original of its virginity".[52][53]
In a 1982 interview withPremière, Spielberg revealed he was then planning a musical film project withQuincy Jones. "I'm a big fan of Quincy's. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to combine what he does best with what I do well and make a 'dangerous' movie." This project failed to materialize, and instead, the two collaborated onThe Color Purple (which Jones produced and scored) in 1985, which would be adapted into amusical several decades later.[54]
In December 1982, Spielberg planned to team with fellow filmmakerBrian De Palma for thescience fiction filmStarfire, after several projects the two wanted to make first.[55]
Spielberg was initially attached to directBig but dropped out when his son Max was born and due to scheduling conflicts withEmpire of the Sun.[56][57][58] He had many meetings withJames L. Brooks about the film and wanted to castHarrison Ford as Josh, butPenny Marshall would ultimately fill his position, and castTom Hanks for the role instead. Spielberg later said that his decision to not direct the film was because he believed his sisterAnne would not get any credit for her script, since they are siblings.[59]
Spielberg was among the few filmmakers attached to directRain Man prior toBarry Levinson's official involvement.[60][61][62][63] It was Spielberg who convinced screenwriterRonald Bass to make the character of Raymond Babbitt an autistic savant.[64] Spielberg dropped out as he was obligated to directIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade,[65][66][67][68] but has also since expressed regret for not having directedRain Man.[69]
In 1988, Spielberg requested to speak to cartoonistBill Watterson about potentially making an animated film based on his popular daily comic stripCalvin and Hobbes. WhenUniversal Press Syndicate tried to set up an appointment, Watterson immediately shut the idea down, as he was not interested in turning it into a movie.[70][71]
In 1989, Spielberg discussed withJ. J. Abrams the possibility of making a sequel to the successfulWho Framed Roger Rabbit.[72] The sequel's plot would have been Roger Rabbit, Baby Herman, and Richie Davenport traveling west to seek Roger's mother, in the process meeting Jessica Krupnick (Roger's future wife), a struggling Hollywood actress. While Roger and Ritchie are enlisting in the Army, Jessica is kidnapped and forced to make pro-Nazi Germany broadcasts.[73] The film would also have been the first true film fromAmblin Entertainment's animation divisionAmblimation. However, after directingSchindler's List, Spielberg refused to direct any films satirizing the Nazis.[74]
In the early stages of development, Spielberg was slated to direct the remake of the 1962 filmCape Fear whereasMartin Scorsese would directSchindler's List (1993).[75] Had Spielberg directed, he envisioned the roles ofMax Cady and Sam Bowden to be portrayed byBill Murray andHarrison Ford respectively.[76] Spielberg eventually decided to swap projects with Scorsese in favor of directingSchindler's List instead.[77] Although he was uncredited, Spielberg did remain as an executive producer of the remake.[76]
In 1990, Spielberg was attached to directWarren Beatty in a biopic aboutHoward Hughes film that was written byBo Goldman.[78][79] The film was eventually made without Spielberg's involvement and released in 2016 under the titleRules Don't Apply.[80]
As reported in August 1990, Spielberg was interested in directingUltimatum, a 1980spec script byRobert Roy Pool andLaurence Dworet about "a presidential adviser battling terrorists." The script was sold for $500,000 after the success ofThe Hunt for Red October.[81]
In 1991, Spielberg was slated to make a film adaptation ofF. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short storyThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button forUniversal Pictures, withTom Cruise playing the titular role. However, Spielberg dropped out due to his commitment with the filmsHook (1991),Jurassic Park (1993) andSchindler's List (1993).[65][82][83][84]
Also in 1991, Spielberg bought the rights toWilliam Steig's 1990 children's bookShrek!. Spielberg originally envisioned his adaptation as atraditionally animated film fromAmblin Entertainment, withBill Murray as the voice of thetitular character andSteve Martin as the voice ofDonkey. Despite co-foundingDreamWorks Animation—the eventual owner of theShrek franchise—in 1994, Spielberg moved on to other projects.[85][86]
As early as 1992, Spielberg was interested in directing a film forDreamWorks based on theWorld War II biographyThunder Below! byEugene B. Fluckey.[87] He turned toShane Salerno to write the screenplay, who later described this collaboration as his "writing school".[88]
Also around 1992, Spielberg considered makingThe Bridges of Madison County his next film followingSchindler's List. By 1994, he backed out to take a year off after working onJurassic Park andSchindler's List back-to-back.[89][90]
According toRyan Murphy on his appearance on the radio programFresh Air with Terry Gross, Murphy sold a script he wrote to Spielberg calledWhy Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn? about a woman who is obsessed with famous film actressAudrey Hepburn, who was left at the altar and who then meets a man just as Audrey-centric as she. The film was going to starTéa Leoni andJennifer Love Hewitt as different roles. Spielberg was interested in making it, but the film's production was canceled after nothing new came out of it, and Spielberg had a lot of other projects in the 1990s he was busy working on.[91]
Spielberg was attached to direct the film in 1993, withJohn Lee Hancock writing the screenplay. Spielberg would exit the project, deeming the story too dark. Hancock would assume the director chair himself, and the film would be released in 2021 starringDenzel Washington,Rami Malek andJared Leto.[92]
According to screenwriterBruce Robinson, afterJennifer 8, he wrote theserial killer filmIn Dreams for Spielberg, which ended up being rewritten and directed byNeil Jordan instead.[93]
In the mid-1990s, Spielberg acquired a copy of an earlyPirates of the Caribbean draft based on thetheme park attraction, written byTed Elliott andTerry Rossio.Amblin bought the script, andBill Murray,Steve Martin andRobin Williams were on Spielberg's mind for theJack Sparrow role, but Disney did not care for his take on the material. A completely different script, also written by Elliott and Rossio, would eventually see production in the 2000s, withJohnny Depp in the Sparrow role under direction ofGore Verbinski.[94]
It was reported that back in 1996, Spielberg was slated to directJim Carrey in a remake ofGreg Glienna's 1992 filmMeet the Parents forUniversal Pictures.[95][96] However, Spielberg, along with Carrey, left the project due to schedule conflicts.[97][98] Spielberg's company DreamWorks served as a co-distributor of the 2000 remake.[99]
Stephen King recalled in the late 1990s that Spielberg attempted to direct a remake of the1963 film, with King serving as screenwriter. However, King left the project due to creative differences with Spielberg. As a result,Jan De Bont directed the film instead and Spielberg's studio DreamWorks distributed it.[100]
Development onMozart and the Whale first began around 1997, when Spielberg was set to direct the film atDreamWorks, withRobin Williams interested in starring. The screenplay was written byRon Bass based on the real-life story ofJerry and Mary Newport.[101]
Spielberg briefly considered directingThe Mask of Zorro throughDreamWorks, but opted instead to helmSaving Private Ryan. After watchingThe Red Squirrel,Stanley Kubrick advised Spielberg to hireJulio Medem to direct the film. Spielberg contacted Medem, but the Spanish filmmaker rejected the opportunity, and the job eventually went toMartin Campbell.[102]
In January 1998, Spielberg signed on to directRob Liefeld's spec scriptThe Mark, withWill Smith set to star, until Smith told Liefeld that Spielberg dropped out due to production and merchandising complications, which Liefeld revealed on a 2015 Twitter thread.[103]
Although he served as a producer of the film, Spielberg initially signed on to direct the adaptation ofArthur Golden's novelMemoirs of a Geisha in April 1998.[104][105] He decided not to direct it when he agreed to directA.I. Artificial Intelligence instead.[65]
Also in 1998, Spielberg andDreamWorks purchased the rights toA. Scott Berg's biographyLindbergh, whichPaul Attanasio was hired to adapt.[106] "I didn't know very much about [Lindbergh] until I read Scott Berg's book and I read it only after I purchased it," he toldThe New York Times Magazine in 1999. "I think it's one of the greatest biographies I've ever read but his America First and hisanti-Semitism bothers me to my core, and I don't want to celebrate an anti-Semite unless I can create an understanding of why he felt that way. Because sometimes the best way to prevent discrimination is to understand the discriminator."[107][4]
In 1998, Spielberg was eyeing to directThe Notebook forNew Line Cinema as a possible next project.Jeremy Leven wrote the script, based on the novel of the same name byNicholas Sparks.[108] Spielberg wished to film it withTom Cruise playing Noah Calhoun,[109] but his commitment to other projects led him to step away by the following year.[110] The adaptation was eventually made byNick Cassavetes in 2004.
In February 1999, Spielberg announced that he was working on an autobiographical film, entitledI'll Be Home, written by his sisterAnne.[107] Spielberg himself, in collaboration withTony Kushner, later wrote the 2022 autobiographical filmThe Fabelmans.
In June 1999, it was reported thatGore Verbinski was in final negotiations to directThe Big Ticket forDreamWorks, based on an idea conceived by Spielberg.Jim Herzfeld wrote the script which centers on a man who is obsessed with watching car chases on the evening news.[111]
Prior toChris Columbus's official involvement, Spielberg was considered to directHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.[112] Spielberg stated in 2012: "I was offeredHarry Potter. I developed it for about five or six months withSteve Kloves, and then I dropped out."[113] Spielberg wanted to combine theHarry Potter books into an animated film, butWarner Bros. presidentAlan F. Horn objected.[114] Spielberg also wantedHaley Joel Osment to portray thetitular character.[115] Spielberg ultimately backed out as director due to creative differences withJ. K. Rowling.[116] He went on to directA.I. Artificial Intelligence instead.[117]
In the start of 2000, Spielberg was set to make his first animated feature film based on theLucasarts video game seriesMonkey Island, a game series he was a fan of at the time. Spielberg was set to direct, produce and co-write the screenplay withTed Elliott, with concept art by the original game's designerSteve Purcell and animatorTony Stacchi, executive produced by Spielberg's best friend and founder of the game's developer,George Lucas.
In August 2000, Spielberg was in talks to direct an adaptation ofDaniel Wallace's novelBig Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions.[118][119][120] Spielberg reportedly wantedJack Nicholson to portray Edward Bloom.[121] However, he dropped out of the project and was replaced byTim Burton, who ended up directing the film.[121][122]
On January 24, 2002, it was reported that Spielberg would direct an adaptation ofHampton Sides's bookGhost Soldiers withJosh Friedman writing the script andTom Cruise was set to star in and produce the film.[123]
In August 2002,Empire cited the abandoned westernArkansas that Spielberg was involved andTom Cruise was in talks to star in the film.[124]
In August 2002, a project calledSpares based on theMichael Marshall Smith novel of the same name abouthuman clones was also cited as a possible collaboration by Spielberg andTom Cruise.[4]
In November 2002, it was reported that Spielberg andDreamWorks decided to produce a remake of the 1952 Japanese filmIkiru, byAkira Kurosawa.[125] In March 2003,Tom Hanks signed on to star in the film as the dying old man, and novelistRichard Price was in talks to write the screenplay. The film was expected to begin production sometime the following year.[126] In 2008, it was reported that Spielberg was possibly eyeing to direct the film.[127] An unrelated English-language remake,Living, was released in 2022, directed byOliver Hermanus.
On May 21, 2003, Spielberg was set to direct and produce the filmThe Rivals forParamount Pictures, withRobin Swicord writing.[128][129] It was revealed thatNicole Kidman andGwyneth Paltrow were set to playSarah Bernhardt andEleanor Duse, untilMarion Cotillard replaced Paltrow.[130] In 2008, Spielberg left the project due toDreamWorks Pictures' split from Paramount, which still has the project.[131][132]
John Goldwyn recalled in the spring of 2003 that Spielberg expressed interest in directing the remake ofThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) forParamount Pictures, on the condition thatJim Carrey play the titular role.[133] However, Paramount put the project inturnaround by the end of 2003.[134] The film was eventuallyremade in 2013, withBen Stiller serving as director in addition to playing the titular role.[135][136]
It was reported in 2003 that Spielberg attempted to direct a film adaptation ofJ. D. Salinger's novelThe Catcher in the Rye, but could not obtain the rights from Salinger.[137]
Around 2004, Spielberg briefly expressed interest in directing the film adaptation ofAudrey Niffenegger'sThe Time Traveler's Wife. As of 2005,Robert Schwentke had entered final negotiations to direct it, and the film was released in 2009.[138]
On June 6, 2005,Richard Donner stated that he and Spielberg had written a story for a film sequel of Donner's acclaimedThe Goonies, despite the fact that the main cast did not have any interest in reprising their roles for a sequel.[139]
The film began development in June 2006, when Spielberg and Paramount Pictures announced plans for a science fiction film based on an eight-page treatment written byLynda Obst andKip Thorne. Obst was attached to produce.[140][141] By March 2007,Jonathan Nolan was hired to write a screenplay.[142] After Spielberg moved his production studio DreamWorks from Paramount toWalt Disney Studios in 2009, Paramount needed a new director forInterstellar. Jonathan Nolan recommended his brotherChristopher Nolan, who joined the project in 2012.[143]
In July 2007,Aaron Sorkin wrote a script entitledThe Trial of the Chicago 7, based on the conspiracy trial of theChicago 7.[144] Producers Spielberg,Walter F. Parkes andLaurie MacDonald collaborated on the development of Sorkin's script, with Spielberg intending to direct the film.Sacha Baron Cohen was originally cast as Abbie Hoffman,[145] while Spielberg approachedWill Smith for the role of Bobby Seale, and planned to meet withHeath Ledger about playing Tom Hayden.[146] TheWriters Guild of America strike, which started in November 2007 and lasted 100 days,[147] delayed filming and the project was suspended until October 2018, when Sorkin was announced as the director of the film.[148][149]
Spielberg was attached to adapt the mangaOld Boy in the late 2000s. Will Smith was set to star and it was reported to be based on the manga not the earlier film adaptation. The project was abandoned due to rights issues.[150] The film ended up being released on November 27, 2013, directed bySpike Lee and starringJosh Brolin.[151]
In June 2008,DreamWorks acquired the screen rights toThe 39 Clues adventure series, with Spielberg eyeing the project as a possible directing vehicle, prior to the first novel's publication. Both Spielberg andScholastic Media president Deborah Forte were set to produce film adaptations of all ten planned books.[152] By September that year,Jeff Nathanson was set as the screenwriter of the first installment in the series, reteaming with Spielberg for the fourth time.[153]Brett Ratner andShawn Levy both later became attached to direct at different times, before the rights were bought byUniversal, in August 2013.[154]
In September 2008,The Hollywood Reporter reported that Spielberg had acquired the rights ofJohn Wyndham's noveletteChocky to make a film adaptation of it.[155] However, no updates were made after this announcement.
On June 15, 2009, it was reported that Spielberg was to make a film aboutBritish Army privateHorace Greasley, who claimed to have secretly escaped and returned toNazi German prisoner-of-war camps 200 times duringWorld War II.[156] However, no updates were made after this announcement.
On May 19, 2009, it was reported that Spielberg was to make a film about the life of civil rights activistMartin Luther King Jr. after buying the rights to his life story.[157][158][159][160] Spielberg said of the project in 2013: "I wouldn't call it a biopic, it's more a story of King and the movement and also about how his admiration forMahatma Gandhi helped to shape his moral core."[161] As of March 15, 2018, Spielberg still holds the rights to King's story.[162]
On August 2, 2009, Spielberg stated that he would direct a film adaptation of the playHarvey.Will Smith,Robert Downey Jr. andTom Hanks were considered to play the lead role, whileJonathan Tropper was hired to write the screenplay. DreamWorks and20th Century Fox would have developed the film.[163] However,Collider confirmed on December 4, 2009, that the project was cancelled due to problems with the lead role selection.[164]
In August 2009, Spielberg announced his intention to adapt theMichael Crichton novelPirate Latitudes, reportedly having wanted to make apirate film.[165][166] Spielberg hiredDavid Koepp to pen the screenplay.[167]Anil Ambani's Reliance Big Entertainment and Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios will produce the film, which will be the third of Crichton's novels Spielberg has adapted, after the highly successfulJurassic Park films. This project is still in development.[168]
On January 31, 2010, it was reported that Spielberg was going to direct a biopic about the life of composerGeorge Gershwin, withZachary Quinto portraying him andDoug Wright writing.[169][170] Principal photography for the biopic was slated to begin in April that same year,[171][172][173] but it never came to fruition. On February 20, 2013, it was reported that Spielberg was still interested in making a biopic about Gershwin's life.[174]
On October 22, 2010, Spielberg had signed on to direct a film adaptation ofDaniel H. Wilson's novelRobopocalypse, withDrew Goddard writing.[175]Chris Hemsworth,Anne Hathaway andBen Whishaw had signed on to star in the film.[176] However, on January 9, 2013,Robopocalypse was placed on hold indefinitely, mainly because of its production expenses.[177] The next day, Spielberg clarified he was working on a new script that would be "more economically but also much morepersonally".[178] In July 2015, concept artwork was leaked onto the Internet.[176] On March 7, 2018,Michael Bay signed on to direct the adaptation.[179]
On July 21, 2011, it was reported that Spielberg was going to direct the film adaptation of Keith Huff'sA Steady Rain, withHugh Jackman set to reprise his role.[180]
On November 15, 2011, it was reported that Spielberg was in talks with Warner Bros. to directGods and Kings, a biopic about the life ofMoses.[181] On March 4, 2013, it was confirmed that Spielberg dropped out of the project.[182]
On May 2, 2013, it was announced that Spielberg had signed on to direct thefilm adaptation ofChris Kyle's 2012 autobiographyAmerican Sniper.[183][184] However, on August 5 that same year, it was announced that Spielberg left the project due to a budget disagreement between him andWarner Bros.[185][186][187]
On June 4, 2013, it was first reported that Spielberg was considering to direct a film adaptation ofDavid Finkel's 2013 nonfiction bookThank You for Your Service, withDaniel Day-Lewis attached to star.[188] Then, on February 20, 2015, it was reported that Spielberg might direct the film later that year.[189][190] Finally, in June 2015, it was officially announced that the film's screenwriterJason Hall would direct the film, after Hall convinced Spielberg to let him direct.[191][192]
On January 6, 2014, Spielberg was considering directingMontezuma as his next possible project, based on a 50-year-old script byDalton Trumbo about the collision between EmperorMoctezuma II andHernán Cortés, which was reportedly being rewritten bySteve Zaillian.Javier Bardem was attached to play Cortés, and Zaillian was to produce the film alongside Spielberg.[193] This was later redeveloped into theAmazon seriesCortes, which was cancelled during filming due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
On March 2, 2015, Spielberg had signed on to direct a film adaptation of Lynsey Addario's memoirIt's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War, withJennifer Lawrence set to star as Addario.[194] However, Spielberg and Lawrence moved on from the film. On October 24, 2018,Ridley Scott signed on to direct, withScarlett Johansson set to star as Addario, until Johansson dropped out the following day, after finding out it was funded by the Saudi crown prince,Mohammed bin Salman.[195]
On April 11, 2016, it was announced that Spielberg would direct a film adaptation ofDavid Kertzer's bookThe Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, withTony Kushner serving as screenwriter andMark Rylance portrayingPope Pius IX. The book is based on the true story of Jewish-ItalianEdgardo Mortara, who was kidnapped and forced to convert to theCatholic Church.[196]Oscar Isaac was to have portrayed the adult Mortara in Spielberg's movie.[197] Spielberg planned to start filming in February 2017 but, after having trouble finding a six-year-old boy to play the film's lead, he cancelled the project in favor of directingThe Post (2017) upon readingLiz Hannah andJosh Singer's script.[198]
Spielberg considered directing theLeonard Bernstein biopicMaestro, and had approachedBradley Cooper to star. When Spielberg decided not to, Cooper said he wanted to "throw his hat in the ring" as a possible director. By 2018, Cooper was firmly attached as both actor and director after Spielberg saw a pre-release screening of his filmA Star Is Born.[199]
On May 17, 2018, it was announced Spielberg was negotiating to direct a biopic of PresidentUlysses S. Grant, which would seeLeonardo DiCaprio play Grant and David James Kelly writing the screenplay.[200] Since then, no new announcements on the project have been made.
On June 9, 2019,Jeffrey Katzenberg announced in a press conference at theBanff World Media Festival that Spielberg was writing a horror series for Katzenberg's then-upcoming service,Quibi. Spielberg requested that the program only be available to watch after sunset.[201][202] In October 2020, it was announced that Quibi was shutting down, leaving the fate of the series in question.[203]
In February 2022,Deadline Hollywood reported that Spielberg was developing an original film centered around the character Frank Bullitt, a fictional San Francisco police officer originally portrayed bySteve McQueen in the 1968 filmBullitt. The screenplay was set to be written byJosh Singer, who previously co-wroteThe Post for Spielberg. McQueen's sonChad and granddaughter Molly were to both serve as executive producers. Spielberg had hoped to shoot the film followingWest Side Story, but due to the negotiations with McQueen's estate taking longer than expected, he chose to directThe Fabelmans first instead.[204] In November, it was announcedBradley Cooper was cast to portray the titular character, and would also join as a producer alongside Spielberg andKristie Macosko Krieger.[205]
Spielberg turned down the offer to directMacArthur, a biopic about the life ofDouglas MacArthur.[13][206][207][208]
Spielberg also turned down the offer to directThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974).[13][206][208][65]
Spielberg was asked to directStar Trek: Planet of the Titans, but was too busy at the time to accept the offer.
Spielberg turned down the offer to directAltered States afterArthur Penn left due to creative differences.Ken Russell took his place, and the film was released in 1980.[209]
Spielberg's longtime friend George Lucas originally wanted him to direct the third entry of the originalStar Wars trilogy,Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Spielberg was eager to do so, but Lucas was unsuccessful in getting him the job because of his dispute with the Director's Guild at the time.[102]
Spielberg was offered by authorWilliam Joyce to direct a live action adaptation of his bookA Day with Wilbur Robinson, He turned it down, and the film becameMeet the Robinsons.[210]
Spielberg was among the list of filmmakers considered to direct the film, beforePeter Weir officially assumed the position.[211]
In the 1990s,George Lucas met with Spielberg,Robert Zemeckis andRon Howard at different times to possibly directStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Howard revealed on a 2015Happy Sad Confused podcast episode that they each turned the offer down because they wanted Lucas to direct the film instead.[212]
In 1982, Spielberg signed on to produce an adaptation of theMichael Crichton novelCongo whenBrian De Palma became attached to direct the film.[55]
In 1986, it was reported that Spielberg was set to produceRobert Zemeckis andBob Gale's scriptCarpool, to be directed byBrian De Palma.[213][214]
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Sometime in the 1980s,[215]
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Spielberg planned to adapt an animated musical of the play with his former animation studioAmblimation. It would have been set in World War II, but was abandoned following the studio's closure in 1997.[219][220]
In the 1990s, Spielberg reunited with fellowCal State alumni Claudia Salter on a project she wrote forAmblin Entertainment titledThe Realm, which she had developed along with producer Andrea McCall.[1]
In April 1997, Spielberg andRobert Zemeckis were attached to produce a film version ofMort the Dead Teenager atDreamWorks, with Jim Cooper writing the script.Elijah Wood was in talks for the starring role of Mort andDominique Swain as his love interest.[221]
In June 1997, it was reported thatRobert Zemeckis had a film in development atUniversal based onAlvin and the Chipmunks, which Spielberg was attached to produce.[222]
Also in 1997, Spielberg andJohn Davis were producing a film adaptation ofRay Bradbury'sThe Martian Chronicles forUniversal Pictures.Michael Tolkin andJohn Orloff were some of the writers who worked on a script, which failed to get off the ground.[91] In 2011,Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to produce a film franchise with Davis producing throughDavis Entertainment.[223]
Prior to the release of the 1999 Disney filmInspector Gadget, Spielberg was at one point slated to produce a film adaptation of the1980s animated series of the same name, his two choices were eitherChevy Chase orSteve Martin as Inspector Gadget.[224]
On April 17, 2003, Spielberg optioned the rights toThomas Eidson's novelSt. Agnes' Stand, and was going to produce withMartin Scorsese directing the film andCharles Randolph writing the script.[225]
Following the release ofThe Adventures of Tintin, the plan to make sequels was asserted in October 2011, with Spielberg set to produce this time, andPeter Jackson directing. Jackson stated he planned to shoot the film following his work onThe Hobbit films.[226] By 2018, no production on the sequels had been made, with Spielberg and Jackson both individually asserting their intentions to continue the franchise.[227]
In March 2013, Spielberg announced that he was developing a miniseries based on the life ofNapoleon.[228] In May 2016, it was announced thatCary Fukunaga is in talks to direct the miniseries forHBO, from a script byDavid Leland, based on extensive research materials accumulated byStanley Kubrick over the years.[229]
In July 2013, it was reported that Spielberg was interested in producing a film adaptation of theJohn Steinbeck novelThe Grapes of Wrath.[230][231]Daniel Day-Lewis was slated to star in Spielberg's adaptation.[232][233] However, the film was prevented from being made due to a rights issue between Steinbeck's surviving relatives.[234]
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In October 2013,[235]
It was indicated byThe New York Times that Spielberg had hiredChris andPaul Weitz to write an English-language adaptation of the Japanese filmLike Father, Like Son, for him to produce.[236]
According toSeth Rogen, in November 2014, Spielberg tried and failed to secure the rights to produce a remake of the 1980s sci-fi filmThe Last Starfighter.[237]
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In 2015,[238]
In April 2016, it was reported that Spielberg would produceSam Mendes' film adaptation of theGay Talese novel and articleThe Voyeur's Motel.[239] In November 2016, the film was cancelled because of the documentaryVoyeur.[240]
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In May 2016,[241]
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On June 14, 2016,[242]
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On June 21, 2016,[243]
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In July 2016,[244]
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On October 4, 2016,[245]
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On October 27, 2016,[246]
On October 29, 2018, Spielberg andJ. J. Abrams were reported to co-produce the film adaptation of Melissa Fleming'sA Hope More Powerful than the Sea about Doaa Al Zamel's escape from theSyrian Civil War, withLena Dunham writing the script.[247]
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In March 2019,[248]
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In November 2019,[249]
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In June 2022,[250]
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In May 2023,[251]
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In October 2023,[252]
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In January 2024,[253]
In March 2024, Spielberg confirmed that an adaptation ofReady Player Two, the sequel novel toReady Player One, was in development with him producing.[254]
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In April 2024,[255]
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In May 2024,[256]
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On June 7, 2024,[257]
On June 20, 2024, it was revealed thatTaika Waititi was in talks to direct a film adaptation of thePercival Everett novelJames with Spielberg executive producing throughAmblin Entertainment.[258]
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In September 2024,[259]
steven spielberg white lightning.
Screenwriter Paul Attanasio has signed to adapt "Lindbergh," the massive Putnam biography about aviator Charles Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg, which Attanasio will try to get airborne in a movie to be directed by Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks.
