Peter Jackson's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Peter Jackson projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson 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.[1][2]
1980s
[edit]A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: The Dream Lover
[edit]In the late 1980s, Jackson submitted a screenplay to New Line Cinema he co-wrote with Danny Mulheron entitled A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: The Dream Lover.[3][4] A separate script for a sixth film, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), was made instead.
Bad Taste 2
[edit]Following the release of his feature debut Bad Taste (1987), Jackson wrote the script for a potential sequel.[1] The story involved an alien invasion of Wellington, as well as Santa Claus and a giant weta. In 1992, Jackson stated that the temptation to make Bad Taste 2 was growing on him.[2]
Warrior Season
[edit]While mulling over the possibilities of making a sequel to Bad Taste, Jackson was also co-writing a script called Warrior Season with Costa Botes. Inspired by his love of Jackie Chan films such as Project A (1983) and Police Story (1985), the project was described as a kung-fu western set during the New Zealand gold rush of the 1870s. Little else is known, other than Timothy Dalton was eyed to play the villain in the film.[2]
1990s
[edit]The Black Max
[edit]Presumably in the early 1990s, Jackson intended to direct a film based on the comic strip character Black Max.[1]
Blubberhead
[edit]In 1992, Jackson was working on a stop motion fantasy epic called Blubberhead, co-written Danny Mulheron. It was described as the "missing link" between Jackson's early work and his Lord of the Rings trilogy. He hired Randall William Cook to do the effects for the film, but it was ultimately never made.[5][1][2]
Johnny Zombie
[edit]Also in 1992, Jackson was offered an opportunity to direct the horror comedy Johnny Zombie. He turned it down, and the film was instead produced under the title My Boyfriend's Back (1993).[1]
Creature from the Black Lagoon remake
[edit]In 1995, Jackson was offered by Universal Pictures to direct a remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). He passed on the chance, and a decade later made King Kong (2005) for the studio instead.[6][1]
The Dam Busters remake
[edit]Invasion of Privacy
[edit]Jackson was sent the script for the drama/thriller titled Invasion of Privacy from a German producer. The story follows a pregnant woman who is held hostage by her ex-boyfriend. However, Jackson turned down the offer to direct.[1]
Jean Batten
[edit]Jackson at one point optioned the film rights for the biography of the famous New Zealand aviatrix, Jean Batten: The Garbo of the Skies.[1]
The World Is Not Enough
[edit]Jackson was offered to direct the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough (1999), but Barbara Broccoli lost interest after a screening of his film The Frighteners (1996).[7]
2000s
[edit]As Nature Made Him
[edit]After the publication of the non-fiction book As Nature Made Him in 2000, Jackson wrote a script based on that story of Canadian man David Reimer whose childhood was spent living as a girl after a botched circumcision as a baby.[1][8]
Halo
[edit]Temeraire
[edit]In 2006, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Jackson optioned the film rights to Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. "[It's] a terrific meld of two genres that I particularly love—fantasy and historical epic," Jackson said at the time.[9] In a 2009 interview with IGN, Jackson stated that he was considering adapting the novels in the form of a miniseries instead. "With six books, I really don't like the idea of making a big-budget movie of the first book and it not doing well at the box office and suddenly that's the end of the series."[10]
2010s
[edit]King Kong prequel
[edit]The Adventures of Tintin sequels
[edit]Untitled New Zealand-set film
[edit]While promoting The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), Jackson revealed to several news publications that before embarking on directing the Adventures of Tintin sequel, he wanted to return to his roots and make a new film set in New Zealand first. He stated that he and Fran Walsh were in the process of adapting several true stories about their native country that would be "similar in tone and scope" to Heavenly Creatures (1994). "We really want to do something now that's connected with where we live rather than something that's a Hollywood thing," said Jackson. No further details were disclosed.[11][12] In 2016, Steven Spielberg revealed that a "secret" new film directed by Jackson was in development at Amblin Entertainment.[8]
2020s
[edit]Untitled Beatles project
[edit]In 2022, following the release of his documentary series The Beatles: Get Back (2021) on Disney+, Jackson was reportedly in discussions with former Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for an additional non-documentary feature project.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jackson's ones that got away". The New Zealand Herald. December 9, 2003. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Harrison, Mark (June 11, 2020). "The unproduced film projects of Peter Jackson". Film Stories. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Michael (January 17, 2024). "Peter Jackson's A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Lover [Script to Pieces]". Wicked Horror. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ JoBlo Horror Originals (July 30, 2021). "PETER JACKSON'S ELM STREET PART 6 - WTF Happened to this Unmade Horror Movie". YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Eisenberg, Adam (January 10, 2022). "RANDALL WILLIAM COOK: AN OSCAR WINNER'S JOURNEY FROM HARRYHAUSEN TO HOBBITS". VFX Voice. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Maddie (January 30, 2023). "Before King Kong, Peter Jackson Nearly Remade Another Iconic Monster Movie". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Brian Sibley (2006). Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey. London: HarperCollins. pp. 397–8. ISBN 0-00-717558-2.
- ^ a b "Steven Spielberg reveals Peter Jackson's next movie won't be Tintin". The New Zealand Herald. June 29, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (September 12, 2006). "Lord of fantasy: Jackson eyeing 'Temeraire'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ Monfette, Christopher (24 July 2009). "SDCC 09: Peter Jackson Updates IGN". IGN. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ Suskind, Alex (December 4, 2014). "'No Regrets': Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent; Gray, Tim (December 16, 2014). "Peter Jackson on the End of His Middle Earth Odyssey". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 20, 2022). "After 5-Emmy-Nom Haul, 'Get Back's Peter Jackson Plots Another Beatles Film With Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
