James Gunn's unrealized projects explained

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

Gilligan's Island

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

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

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

Plastic Man

[8]

Scooby Doo 3

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 (2004), Warner Bros. cancelled the project.[2]

Creature from the Black Lagoon remake

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

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] [9] Gunn left the project due to creative differences.[1] [10]

The Belko Experiment

2010s

It's Alive remake

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."[11]

Starsky & Hutch TV continuation

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.[12] 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.[13]

Ravagers TV spinoff

In August 2017, Gunn said that he was in talks with Marvel Studios to make a Ravagers spinoff series.[14] [15]

2020s

Coyote vs. Acme

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Accardo. Brian. Every Unmade James Gunn Movie We’ll Never See. September 23, 2023. MovieWeb. October 20, 2023.
  2. Web site: Williams. Jordan. Every Unmade James Gunn Movie (Including Scooby-Doo 3). September 19, 2021. Screen Rant. October 20, 2023.
  3. Web site: Lattanzio. Ryan. James Gunn and Charlie Kaufman Almost Made a Cannibalistic ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Movie. October 14, 2021. IndieWire. October 20, 2023.
  4. Web site: Plant. Logan. James Gunn Tried To Make a Gilligan's Island Reboot With Cannibals. October 13, 2021. IGN. October 20, 2023.
  5. Web site: Zinski. Dan. James Gunn Pitched A Gilligan’s Island Movie With A Cannibal Twist. October 13, 2021. Screen Rant. October 20, 2023.
  6. Web site: Patterson. Adreon. James Gunn Shares Details About His Insane Spy Vs. Spy Script. May 1, 2020. Comic Book Resources. October 20, 2023.
  7. Web site: Fisher. Kieran. The History of the ‘Spy vs Spy’ Movie. May 1, 2020. Film School Rejects. October 20, 2023.
  8. Web site: Kesh. Jonathan. James Gunn Nearly Cast Matthew Lillard as DC's Plastic Man in the 2000s. Comic Book Resources. March 11, 2023. August 15, 2024.
  9. Web site: Orange. B. Alan. James Gunn Has Pets. September 21, 2007. MovieWeb. October 20, 2023.
  10. Riley. Jenelle. Q&A: ‘Guardians’ Director Calls New, Big Budget Career in Hollywood ‘Orgasmic’. August 1, 2014. Variety. October 20, 2023.
  11. Web site: Winfrey. Graham. Larry Cohen, a Horror Hero For James Wan and Eli Roth, Reveals Why He Doesn't Watch Scary Movies and Hates Remakes. May 4, 2017. IndieWire. October 20, 2023.
  12. News: Goldberg. Lesley. James Gunn's 'Starsky and Hutch' TV Reboot Lands at Amazon. October 23, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. August 31, 2017.
  13. News: Roberts. Daniel. Exclusive: Amazon says James Gunn 'Starsky and Hutch' reboot is off. July 24, 2018. Yahoo!. October 23, 2023.
  14. News: Foutch. Haleigh. James Gunn Talks 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Filming Plans, Title, and More. August 31, 2017. Collider. October 23, 2023.
  15. News: Gribben. Sean. James Gunn Has Pitched a GOTG TV Spinoff Starring the Ravagers. August 7, 2021. Comic Book Resources. October 23, 2023.

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