Buzz
For every movie that makes it to theaters or streaming platforms, there are countless others that never make it past the planning stages. Filmmaking is an intricate and challenging art, often derailed by financial struggles and creative disagreements. Here are the tales behind several science fiction and fantasy films that were never realized—some of which might have been incredible, while others were perhaps best left in the vault.
10. Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek
In 2017, it was revealed that Quentin Tarantino had expressed interest in creating a Star Trek movie. According to him, he envisioned making “Pulp Fiction in space.” His concept was inspired by an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series titled “A Piece of the Action,” which featured a planet resembling Earth, with a society based on 1920s gangster culture.
Tarantino presented his vision to Star Trek producer and director J.J. Abrams, who was intrigued enough to form a writers' room. This collaboration led to Tarantino working with Mark L. Smith, the screenwriter behind The Revenant (2015). Smith mentioned that the plot included “a little time travel stuff” and a “lot of fun” with Chris Pine’s portrayal of Captain Kirk.
In a break from past Star Trek projects, Tarantino stated, “If I do it, it’ll be R-rated.” However, by the end of 2019, he revealed that he was no longer pursuing the film, though he did not provide any explanation for his decision.
9. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4
Sam Raimi envisioned Spider-Man 4 as the perfect conclusion to his Spidey saga. “I was really disappointed with Spider-Man 3, and I wanted Spider-Man 4 to end on a high note,” Raimi reflected in 2013. Yet, he ultimately left the project due to time constraints and the inability to get the story to the level he desired. Furthermore, he was aware that Sony was planning a reboot alongside his own movie, which eventually became The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) starring Andrew Garfield.
Raimi’s envisioned fourth film would have featured the Vulture, portrayed by John Malkovich, as the primary antagonist. Anne Hathaway was cast as Felicia Hardy, Peter Parker’s new love interest, who would later become the Vulturess. Concept art by Jeffrey Henderson also teased an appearance from Mysterio. Recently, some rumors have emerged suggesting the project might still have a chance of happening.
8. Batman Unchained (aka Batman Triumphant)
After the harsh reception of Batman & Robin (1997), director Joel Schumacher wanted to take the franchise in a darker direction. “I felt I disappointed a lot of older fans by being too conscious of the family aspect,” he explained to Variety in 1997. “I had received tens of thousands of letters from parents asking for a film their children could enjoy. Now, I owe the hardcore fans the Batman movie they’ve been waiting for.”
Batman Unchained (also referred to as Batman Triumphant, though screenwriter Mark Protosevich is uncertain why) would have seen Scarecrow and Harley Quinn join forces to battle Batman. “I remember visiting the set of Face/Off and asking Nic Cage to play Scarecrow,” Schumacher recalls. Batman would have also been tormented by hallucinations of his past adversaries, with planned cameos from Danny DeVito as the Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face, Jim Carrey as the Riddler, and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.
However, the disastrous reception of Batman & Robin ultimately led to the movie’s cancellation. Warner Bros. briefly considered alternative directions, including casting Clint Eastwood as an older Dark Knight, but none of these ideas came to life until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins in 2005.
7. David Fincher’s Rendezvous with Rama
Director David Fincher and actor Morgan Freeman spent years attempting to adapt Arthur C. Clarke’s 1973 novel Rendezvous with Rama, which tells the story of a massive alien spacecraft entering our solar system. Fincher first tried to make it a reality in 2000, and by 2008, he conceded that “it looks like it’s not going to happen,” though hope persisted for some time after.
In 2011, Fincher shared, “The question was can we get a script that’s worthy of Morgan and can we get a script that is worthy of Arthur Clark and can we do all of that in an envelope that will allow the movie to take the kinds of chances that it wants to take.”
Despite the dedication of Fincher and Freeman to the project, that version of the film is officially canceled. However, a new iteration is in the works, with Denis Villeneuve set to direct. Freeman remains involved in the production team.
6. David Cronenberg’s Total Recall
Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall (1990), adapted from Philip K. Dick’s 1966 short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” is a thrilling sci-fi action film. However, had David Cronenberg remained in the director’s chair, the movie would have carried a much darker tone. Producer and screenwriter Ronald Shusett, along with Dan O’Bannon—who penned the screenplay for Alien (1979)—initially wrote a script before bringing Cronenberg in to direct and write the final version.
Cronenberg worked through 12 iterations of the script, but his vision clashed with Shusett’s. According to Cronenberg, Shusett suggested, “We want this movie to be like Raiders of the Lost Ark goes to Mars,” to which Cronenberg responded, “Okay, well, I’m not doing that movie,” and ultimately walked away. Despite leaving the project, Cronenberg still left his mark on the film—most notably, he created the character that would eventually become Kuato, the psychic mutant fused to his brother’s abdomen.
5. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune
Among the most legendary unfinished sci-fi films is Alejandro Jodorowsky’s take on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune. Jodorowsky, known for his surreal yet successful films, was given carte blanche by producer Michel Seydoux to pursue his next project. Jodorowsky chose Dune, but he significantly altered the original material. His version would have culminated in Paul Atreides transforming into a sentient planet.
Writer Dan O’Bannon and artist H.R. Giger, both of whom later worked on Alien, were brought on for the ill-fated project. Jodorowsky cast his own son as Paul Atreides, and the Padishah Emperor was to be portrayed by the famed Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. Jodorowsky also selected Pink Floyd to provide the film's soundtrack. However, when Jodorowsky revealed his plans to the studio, they balked—not only because of the escalating budget but also due to his ambitious vision of a 10 to 12-hour runtime.
4. Ghostbusters III: Hellbent
Dan Aykroyd, star of the original Ghostbusters, spent years attempting (and ultimately failing) to bring his idea for Ghostbusters III to life. Titled Hellbent, Aykroyd’s script was based on a story he developed alongside co-star Harold Ramis. Set in an alternate version of Manhattan called Manhellton, the Ghostbusters would battle the devil with the aid of a new, younger team.
In 1999, Aykroyd shared that the film struggled to gain momentum due to its high costs, which the studio deemed too steep to justify its production. He expressed disappointment, mentioning that everyone involved was eager to make it happen, and even Bill Murray was willing to work for a few days on the project.
By 2007, Aykroyd's faith in the project was revived: “Thanks to advancements in CGI and animation, we can now bring to life everything I envisioned in that original script, and all at a fraction of the cost.” This included a depiction of Central Park transformed into a massive underground mine, with green demons lurking amidst towering black onyx apartment buildings, reaching a height of a thousand feet, with red devils scattered throughout. Ramis even dreamed of casting Ben Stiller in one of the new Ghostbusters roles.
Although the movie never materialized, Aykroyd has referred to the 2009 video game *Ghostbusters: The Video Game*, where the team ventures into a dimension called the Ghost World, as ‘essentially the third movie.’
3. Superman Lives
In 1996, Warner Bros. approached Kevin Smith with a few script rewrite opportunities, including *Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian*, which he dismissed with the comment, ‘Didn’t we say all we needed to say with the first *Beetlejuice*? Must we go tropical?’ However, the project that piqued his interest was *Superman Reborn*, which was later rebranded as *Superman Lives*. Writing a Superman movie was a dream for Smith, but producer Jon Peters had some peculiar demands: no classic blue, red, and yellow suit for Superman, no flying, and a battle with a giant spider.
Tim Burton was set to direct a Superman film with Nicholas Cage in the title role. The project was moving forward with sets and costumes being made, but the script was struggling. In 1998, Warner Bros. decided to pause the project until the budget and script were ready. Though the film was never revived, a CGI version of Cage as Superman fighting a giant spider was briefly included in The Flash (2023).
2. Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian
Written by Jonathan Gem, Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian revolved around the Deetz family relocating to Hawaii to build a resort, only to discover that the land was an ancient burial ground. Warner Bros. was not fond of the idea, as they wanted Tim Burton to direct a sequel to Batman (1989) instead.
The project was ultimately put on hold, and by 1997, Gem declared it essentially dead, mentioning that Winona Ryder was too old for her role and any version would require a recast. However, in 2013, there were whispers of the movie reviving with an older Lydia, with Ryder expressing interest in seeing what her character might be doing 27 years later.
The sequel is now in development, but it remains unclear if the Hawaiian theme will be used. The film's working title has recently been revealed as 'Blue Hawaii,' leaving some to wonder if it’s a reference to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian or a hint at the original idea. Only time will tell.
1. George Lucas's Vision for the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
In the 2020 publication of The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005, George Lucas unveiled his concept for the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He shared that the story would unfold shortly after the original trilogy, focusing on Leia, who, as the leader, strives to rebuild the Republic, while Luke embarks on the mission of reviving the Jedi Order.
While Leia works to restore order to the galaxy, Darth Maul would rise as the ‘godfather of crime,’ capitalizing on the Empire's collapse to seize control. Another antagonist would be Maul's apprentice, a female named Darth Talon, a character from the comics. However, Lucas ultimately shelved the project, choosing to prioritize family life as his daughter was soon to be born, stating, 'I’d decided I’d rather raise my daughter and enjoy life for a while.'
