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Jonathan Demme's unrealized projects

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The following is a list of unproduced Jonathan Demme projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American filmmaker Jonathan Demme worked on a number projects that never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell, were officially cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

1970s

Shivers

Main article: Shivers (1975 film) § Production

The Confidence Man

In 1974, it was announced that Demme was going direct a screenplay he wrote for Roger Corman based on The Confidence-Man, a novel by Herman Melville set on a Mississippi riverboat in the 1850s.[1][2]

Typee

In 1977, Demme planned to direct his own adaptation of Herman Melville's Typee, set to produced by his then-wife Evelyn Purcell.[3] In 1987, it was reported that Demme would direct the film through the producing assistance of Jeremy Thomas.[4]

Creature

In the late 1970s, Demme was enlisted by Hal Ashby to direct Jeremy Leven's Creator as a film production for his company Northstar International.[5] A film of the novel was later made in 1985, starring Peter O'Toole.

1980s

Crimes of the Heart

Main article: Crimes of the Heart (film)

[6]

Birdy

Main article: Birdy (film)

[7]

Man Trouble

Main article: Man Trouble

[8]

Stealing Home

Main article: Stealing Home

[9]

Handcarved Coffins

In April 1984, Demme intended to make a film of Truman Capote's "Handcarved Coffins", a novella which he described as "a hard-edged mystery, a mystery with violence."[10]

Untitled John Milius collaboration

Also in April 1984, Demme revealed that he spoke with John Milius about making a film from one of his scripts, "a semi-political fantasy thriller", about a futuristic account of a Green Beret action set within the United States.[10]

Peggy Sue Got Married

Main article: Peggy Sue Got Married

[11]

Extreme Prejudice

Main article: Extreme Prejudice (film)

In late 1984, Carolco Pictures acquired Extreme Prejudice, a modern day Western written by John Milius, and was negotiating with Demme to direct. Demme envisioned Robert Mitchum in the role of the aging lawman.[12] In December that year, Demme told Daily Variety he hoped to complete a rewrite of the screenplay by March and begin filming in Texas in summer 1985, with Milius aboard as a producer. However, neither Demme nor Milius stayed with the project and Walter Hill was brought aboard to direct the film with Nick Nolte in the Mitchum part.[13]

About Last Night

Main article: About Last Night (1986 film)

[14]

Continental Drift

In 1988, author Russell Banks was hired by Demme to help develop a screenplay based on Continental Drift, Banks' novel about anomie and Haitian refugees in Florida.[15] Demme intended to direct the film, but the adaptation never materialized.[16][17]

1990s

Parting the Waters

In the early 1990s, Demme sought to adapt Parting the Waters as a feature film, produced by Edward Saxon and Harry Belafonte.[18] Anna Hamilton Phelan wrote the adaptation of the book, which was about the civil rights movement in the 1960s.[19]

Rapid Pace of Battle

[20]

The Stopwatch Gang

After Philadelphia, Demme spent eighteen months developing The Stopwatch Gang, which he was set to direct and produce for TriStar in 1996.[21] Written by Beth Henley, the project was to star Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet and Bono as the group of Canadian bank robbers.[19] "It's a wonderful, hard-to-characterize movie, not exactly a comedy, not exactly a thriller," Demme said. "And it proved to be the kind of movie no one wanted to finance. We had Bono; we had Kate Winslet pre-Titanic. We had all the locations. And the studios wouldn't make it without a giant star."[22]

Hannibal

Main article: Hannibal (2001 film) § Development

K-PAX

Main article: K-PAX (film)

Demme considered directing the sci-fi mystery K-PAX as his next film, as he was interested in working with Will Smith who was attached to star at that time. After Demme passed, Smith dropped out of the project and the resulting film starred Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges.[23]

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Main article: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)

In 1999, it was reported that Demme, Chris Columbus, Rob Reiner and Brad Silberling were each in the running to direct the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, after Steven Spielberg departed from the project.[24] The job ultimately went to Columbus, who also directed its sequel.

2000s

Eye in the Door

[25]

Insomnia

Main article: Insomnia (2002 film) § Production

Intolerable Cruelty

Main article: Intolerable Cruelty

In October 2000, Demme was in negotiations to direct the Coen brothers' screenplay Intolerable Cruelty at Universal and Imagine Entertainment. Demme courted Hugh Grant, Tea Leoni and Geoffrey Wright to play the leads, but later dropped out of the project, and the Coens took over directorial duties. The final film starred George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones instead of Grant and Leoni.[26]

Marley

Main article: Marley (film)

In 2008, it was reported that Demme was replacing Martin Scorsese as director of the Bob Marley documentary, initially set to be released in 2010. Demme soon exited as well,[27] and the film was made instead by Kevin MacDonald, in 2012.

Zeitoun

In 2009, the film rights to Dave Eggers' book Zeitoun were acquired by Demme, who announced plans to direct an hand-animated adaptation. Daniel Pyne was to write the script, and Donald Harrison Jr. and Zafer Tawil were to compose the score.[28] In 2012, Demme updated that the film was "in active development [...] It's been so challenging to find the money for an animated film about a Muslim American family set against the backdrop of hurricanes and floods. We've really kind of channeled our energy into the script for the time being. It's something that’s going to happen."[29] At this stage, artist Charlie Griak was hired to develop animated imagery based on the script.[30]

2010s

Honeymoon with Harry

In 2010, Demme was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Bart Baker's novel Honeymoon with Harry, with Paul Haggis writing the screenplay, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in talks to star, producing the movie with Dave Bartis, Elloit Abbott, & Avram Ludwig.[31] The following year, Demme left the film due to De Niro's non-committal to starring.[32] In 2017, Nick Cassavetes signed on to direct the film.[33]

11.22.63

Main article: 11.22.63 § Development

Old Fires

In 2012, it was reported that Demme was attached to direct the family dramedy Old Fires from a script by Heather McGowan about a world-renowned architect who comes out of a coma wanting to reconnect with his children and win back his wife's love. Production was set to begin in summer the following year.[34][30] In 2013, it was revealed by Jennifer Ehle (who was cast to star in the film alongside Bryan Cranston and Jason Segel), that it had been postponed due to inability to secure financing.[35]

Come Sunday

Main article: Come Sunday (film) § Production

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

According to David Edelstein, prior to his death, Demme wanted to make a film of the 2010 book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which later was produced as a 2017 HBO film with Oprah Winfrey.[36]

References

  1. ^ "Books Into Films: Announced in the Trades". June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Roger Corman unrealized projects". Temple of Schlock. November 22, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "At the Movie". The New York Times. November 4, 1977. p. 60.
  4. ^ Gelder, Lawrence Van (November 20, 1987). "At the Movies". The New York Times. p. 12. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Dawson, Nick (2009). Being Hal Ashby: The Life of a Hollywood Rebel. University Press of Kentucky. p. 226. ISBN 978-0813139197.
  6. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Crimes of the Heart". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Birdy". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Man Trouble". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Stealing Home". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hinson, Hal (April 21, 1984). "Master of The Chance Encounter". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Peggy Sue Got Married". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Zimmerman, Paul (May 9, 2017). "My Dinners with Demme". Film Threat. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "AFI|Catalog - Extreme Prejudice". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "AFI|Catalog - About Last Night..." AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Kaplan, James (March 27, 1988). "JONATHAN DEMME'S OFFBEAT AMERICA". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Pulver, Andrew (May 13, 2005). "Grim fairytale". The Guardian. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Unproduced and Unfinished Films A Through K: An Ongoing Film Comment Project". Film Comment. No. May-June 2012.
  18. ^ Hornaday, Ann (August 13, 2013). "Essay: 'The Butler' finally puts the civil rights movement on screen. Will other follow?". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Unproduced and Unfinished Films L Through Z: An Ongoing Film Comment Project". Film Comment. No. May-June 2012.
  20. ^ Frook, John Evan (March 31, 1993). "'Lambs' team is ready for 'Battle'". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Cox, Dan (December 19, 1996). "DEMME HEADS FOR U". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Weintraub, Bernard (October 2, 1998). "AT THE MOVIES; 'Beloved' From Demme". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  23. ^ Fleming, Michael (October 26, 1999). "Demme eyes 'Charade'; Hauer, Harmon hitch up". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  24. ^ Moerk, Christian (September 22, 1999). "In H'w'd, nothing's hotter than 'Potter'". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  25. ^ Lyons, Charles (March 20, 2000). "Demme opens door at October for 'Eye'". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 22, 2000). "It's 'Cruelty' for Demme". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Connelly, Brendon (August 14, 2009). "Jonathan Demme Departs Bob Marley Film Part Way Through Production?". Slashfilm. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (October 28, 2009). "'Zeitoun' as Cartoon: Demme Plans Animated Film of Eggers Book". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Otto, Jeff (June 20, 2012). "Jonathan Demme Says 'Zeitoun' Still Need Financing, Talks Adapting Stephen King's '11/22/63'". IndieWire. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Kiang, Jessica (December 29, 2012). "Jonathan Demme On Future Projects 'Old Fires,' 'Zeitoun' And 'This House We Live In'". IndieWire. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  31. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (August 2, 2010). "Will Jonathan Demme 'Honeymoon' With Robert De Niro And Bradley Cooper?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  32. ^ Finke, Nikki (May 21, 2008). "De Niro Balks, Demme Walks, Movie Chalks (And Bradley Cooper Is Caught In Middle)". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  33. ^ Dave McNary (January 18, 2017). "Nick Cassavetes Going on 'Honeymoon With Harry'". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  34. ^ Sneider, Jeff (April 15, 2015). "Jonathan Demme set for indie 'Old Fires'". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  35. ^ Cunningham, Joe (May 13, 2013). "Jonathan Demme's 'Old Fires' With Bryan Cranston, Jason Segel & Jennifer Ehle Put On Hold". IndieWire. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  36. ^ Edelstein, David (April 28, 2017). "Remembering Jonathan Demme, One of Cinema's Most Contagious Enthusiasts". Vulture. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
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