Doug Liman's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Doug Liman projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American filmmaker Doug Liman has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.
1990s
[edit]Sonny Bright
[edit]On November 7, 1999, Liman was set to direct Wayne Rice and Gina Goldman’s spec screenplay Sonny Bright with the Farrelly Brothers attached as producers.[1]
2000s
[edit]Untitled action drama film
[edit]On June 30, 2004, it was announced that Warner Bros. Pictures had acquired a pitch for an untitled action drama centered on the California Highway Patrol, to be directed by Liman and scripted by Sheldon Turner; Liman would also produce the film alongside Dave Bartis and Jonathan Shestack.[2]
Knight Rider series reboot
[edit]Luna Park
[edit]On November 27, 2007, Liman was set to direct an untitled science fiction film for DreamWorks Pictures about a lunar expedition, with Jake Gyllenhaal set to star.[4] On June 6, 2011, it was announced that the film, now titled Luna, would be co-financed by New Regency and Skydance Media for Paramount Pictures, with Simon Kinberg joining the project as a writer and producer.[5] On September 9, 2015, Tom Cruise signed on to star in the film, which was now titled Luna Park.[6]
2010s
[edit]Attica
[edit]On February 16, 2010, Liman was set to direct Geoffrey S. Fletcher's screenplay Attica with Liman producing the movie with Dave Bartis, Elloit Abbott, & Avram Ludwig.[7]
The Three Musketeers film
[edit]On May 7, 2010, Liman was set to direct a film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel The Three Musketeers with Peter Straughan and Bridget O'Connor writing the screenplay and Lionel Wigram producing for Warner Bros. Pictures,[8] but it was canceled that August, due to Paul W. S. Anderson's competing 2011 adaptation; Liman would ultimately direct the All You Need is Kill adaptation, Edge of Tomorrow, instead.[9]
The Last of the Tribe
[edit]On July 13, 2010, Liman was set to direct Monte Reel's non-fiction novel The Last of the Tribe: The Epic Quest to Save a Lone Man in the Amazon with Liman producing with Dave Bartis, Ed Saxon, Steve Schwartz, and Paula Mae Schwartz.[10] On April 15, 2015, it was announced that Paul Haggis had entered talks to direct the project, with Liman now only involved as a producer.[11]
The Osterman Weekend reboot
[edit]On September 3, 2010, Liman was set to produce a film adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel The Osterman Weekend with Jesse Wigutow writing the screenplay and Peter Davis, Simon Kinberg, Jeffrey Weiner, and Henry Morrison producing for Summit Entertainment,[12] On February 28, 2012, it was announced that Brian Kirk had entered talks to direct the project,[13] but on May 18, 2016, the adaptation was likely incorporated into a planned shared universe of Ludlum adaptations for Universal Pictures, Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions & James Vanderbilt's Mythology Entertainment without Liman.[14]
untitled Two-Gun Cohen biopic
[edit]On March 21, 2011, Liman was set to direct a Two-Gun Cohen biopic with Matt Brown writing the screenplay, Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman producing in collaboration with the Chinese company Galloping Horse.[15]
Everest
[edit]On November 30, 2011, it was announced that Liman would direct Everest, based on the Jeffrey Archer novel Paths of Glory about mountaineer George Mallory's attempts to scale Mount Everest in the 1920s , for Sony Pictures, with Sheldon Turner adapting the novel.[16] On September 24, 2012, it was announced that Tom Hardy had entered talks to star as Mallory.[17] In October 2013, it was announced that the project was preparing to begin production in March 2014, but that Hardy had dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[18] On June 16, 2021, it was announced that Ewan McGregor had been cast as Mallory, alongside Mark Strong as Arthur Hinks and Sam Heughan as George Finch. Production was expected to begin in January 2022, with HanWay Films now handling the project's international sales and cinematographer Martin Ruhe, production designer Oliver Scholl, and composer T Bone Burnett all attached to the project.[19]
Time and Again film
[edit]The Tourist
[edit]On September 7, 2012, Liman was set to direct and produce the film adaptation of Olen Steinhauer's novel The Tourist for Sony Pictures.[20]
Heartbeats TV series
[edit]On November 5, 2013, Liman was set to produce Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan's romantic dramedy series Heartbeats, with Liman's business partner Dave Bartis will serve as executive producers and Jones and Mohan will co-executive produce the series for Starz.[21]
El Presidente
[edit]On November 19, 2013, Liman was set to take over directing the comedy El Presidente from Jay Roach, with Tom Cruise starring, Paul Attanasio writing the script, and Warner Bros. set to distribute.[22]
Victory remake
[edit]Splinter Cell film
[edit]Railhead film
[edit]On October 20, 2015, Liman was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Philip Reeve's novel Railhead with Gary Graham writing the screenplay, Liman producing the movie with Dave Bartis, Denise DiNovi, and Allison Greenspan for Warner Bros. distributing.[23]
The Year of The Great Storm
[edit]On March 9, 2016, Liman was set to produce Karzan Kader's biographical crime film The Year of The Great Storm, with Johanna Baldwin writing the screenplay and producing along with Tyler Perry, George C. Wolfe, Ozzie Areu, Matt Moore, and Russ Stratton.[24]
Live Die Repeat and Repeat
[edit]Fox's Gambit spinoff film
[edit]Justice League Dark film
[edit]On August 24, 2016, Liman was set to direct a Justice League Dark film entitled Dark Universe set in the DC Extended Universe, with Michael Gilio set to write the screenplay and Scott Rudin producing.[25] On May 23, 2017, Liman left the project.[26]
Unearthed film
[edit]On June 7, 2017, Liman was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's novel Unearthed for Columbia Pictures and Cross Creek Pictures, with Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth set to write the screenplay.[27]
Crazy Talented TV series
[edit]On July 12, 2019, Liman was set to produce and direct Crazy Talented based on a short story by Steven Gould with Michael Karnow writing the Quibi series.[28]
2020s
[edit]Untitled ISS film
[edit]On May 26, 2020, Liman was set to direct and write a film to be filmed on the International Space Station, with Tom Cruise set to star and produce the project with Liman in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX,[29] and on October 11, 2022, Cruise was confirmed to be the first civilian to do a spacewalk for the movie.[30]
Red Notice series
[edit]In March 2022, Liman signed on to direct and executive produce a television series adaptation of the 2015 book Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by activist and financier Bill Browder.[31]
Rise and Kill First
[edit]On May 18, 2022, Liman was set to direct the Otto Skorzeny biopic based on Ronen Bergman‘s nonfiction book Rise and Kill First with Story Syndicate and Abot Hameiri producing the movie.[32]
The Saint series reboot
[edit]On November 21, 2023, it was announced that Liman would direct a reboot of The Saint for Paramount Pictures, with Regé-Jean Page starring.[33]
Offers
[edit]Gambit remake
[edit]On April 28, 2010, Liman was in talks to direct the American remake of Gambit for Summit Entertainment with the Coen brothers writing the screenplay, which Michael Hoffman ended up directing.[34]
The Wolverine
[edit]On May 25, 2011, Liman was offered to direct The Wolverine after Darren Aronofsky left the project, but before James Mangold was hired to direct.[35]
Narco Sub
[edit]On October 8, 2013, Liman was in negotiations to direct the action thriller Narco Sub, with David Guggenheim writing the screenplay and Genre Films and Scott Free Productions producing for 20th Century Fox.[36] On May 28, 2014, Antoine Fuqua was set to direct Narco Sub instead of Liman.[37]
The Cannonball Run reboot
[edit]On June 4, 2018, Liman was in talks to direct the reboot of The Cannonball Run for Warner Bros. with Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant in talks to write the screenplay.[38]
References
[edit]- ^ Fleming, Michael (November 7, 1999). "'Bright' day for Liman, Farrelly duo". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Michael (June 30, 2004). "WB cops pitch deal with Turner, Liman". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (September 26, 2007). "NBC taps Liman for 'Knight Rider'". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (November 27, 2007). "Gyllenhaal tapped for Namath film". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
Gyllenhaal, who is coming off "Rendition" and "Zodiac," is currently shooting the Jim Sheridan-directed "Brothers" with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman and will follow that by teaming with Doug Liman on an untitled project at DreamWorks that revolves around a moon expedition.
- ^ Justin Kroll; Rachel Abrams (June 6, 2011). "Par's 'Luna' rises with new financing". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 9, 2015). "Tom Cruise and Doug Liman Developing Sci-Fi Pic 'Luna Park' for Paramount (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 16, 2010). "Doug Liman boards 'Attica'". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Dave McNary (May 7, 2010). "Doug Liman to direct 'Three Musketeers'". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Dave McNary (August 23, 2010). "Doug Liman to direct 'All You Need Is Kill'". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Siegel, Tatiana (July 13, 2010). "Doug Liman finds 'Epic Quest'". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 15, 2015). "Paul Haggis Circling Amazon Tale 'Last Of The Tribe'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 7, 2010). "Scribe For Ludlum's 'Osterman Weekend'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 28, 2012). "Brian Kirk In Talks To Helm Robert Ludlum's 'The Osterman Weekend'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (May 18, 2016). "Universal, Dwayne Johnson, James Vanderbilt Plot Robert Ludlum Cinematic Universe (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Landreth, Jonathan (March 21, 2011). "Doug Liman to Direct Story of Sun Yat-sen's Bodyguard". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 30, 2011). "Doug Liman Scales 'Everest' For Sony". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 24, 2012). "Tom Hardy Climbing Aboard Doug Liman-Directed 'Everest'; He'll Play George Mallory". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 21, 2013). "'Everest' Update: Sony Eyes March For Doug Liman's Pic; Universal, Baltasar Kormakur Lose Co-Fi But Still Plan November Climb". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent (June 16, 2021). "Ewan McGregor to Tackle 'Everest' for Director Doug Liman". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 7, 2012). "Sony Acquires Olen Steinhauer Novel 'The Tourist' For Doug Liman To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Friedlander, Whitney (November 5, 2013). "Starz Plugs Into Hypnotic's 'Heartbeats'". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (November 19, 2013). "Tom Cruise Wooing Jack Nicholson for Upcoming Warner Bros. Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 20, 2015). "Warner Bros Sets Gary Graham To Adapt 'Railhead' For Doug Liman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 9, 2016). "Tyler Perry, Doug Liman Lead Charge To Mount Apartheid Murder Tale 'The Year Of The Great Storm'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 24, 2016). "Doug Liman to Direct 'Dark Universe' for DC, Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (May 23, 2017). "Doug Liman Parts Ways With Justice League Dark Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 7, 2017). "Doug Liman to Direct 'Unearthed' for Columbia and Cross Creek". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 12, 2019). "'Crazy Talented': Doug Liman To Direct Quibi Series With His 30 Ninjas Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 26, 2020). "Doug Liman To Direct Tom Cruise In Outer Space-Shot Movie Collaboration With Elon Musk & NASA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (October 11, 2022). "Tom Cruise's Space Movie Will Make Him the 'First Civilian to Do a Spacewalk Outside of the Space Station,' Universal Boss Says". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ White, Peter (March 16, 2022). "Doug Liman Set To Direct Series Adaptation Of Bill Browder's Russian-Corruption Book 'Red Notice'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Hopewell, John (May 18, 2022). "'The Bourne Identity's' Doug Liman to Adapt 'Rise and Kill First' for Story Syndicate, Abot Hameiri (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (November 20, 2023). "Doug Liman Boards Paramount's New Reimagining Of 'The Saint' Starring Regé-Jean Page". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 28, 2010). "'Fair Game' Director Doug Liman Circles Coen Brothers-Scripted 'Gambit' Redo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Edward (May 25, 2011). "Doug Liman, Mark Romanek, James Mangold & Antoine Fuqua Reportedly Top The 'Wolverine' Wishlist". IndieWire. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 8, 2013). "Doug Liman in Early Talks to Direct Former Tony Scott Project 'Narco Sub' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 28, 2014). "Antoine Fuqua Attached To Fox Drug Trafficking Thriller 'Narco Sub'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 4, 2018). "Doug Liman in Early Negotiations to Direct 'Cannonball Run' Remake". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
