Robert Zemeckis' Unproduced Projects

The following is a list of unproduced Robert Zemeckis projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director Robert Zemeckis 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.

1980s

''Cocoon''

Before the release of Romancing The Stone, Zemeckis was attached to direct Cocoon and Ron Howard replaced him.

''Who Discovered Roger Rabbit''

1990s

''The Shadow''

''The Cobra Event''

On September 19, 1997, Zemeckis was slated to produce the film adaptation of Richard Preston's novel ''The Cobra Event'' for DreamWorks Pictures.

''The Fermata'' adaptation

''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace''

In the 1990s, Zemeckis was one of three directors, including Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, in talks with George Lucas to direct Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which Howard revealed on a 2015 Happy, Sad Confused episode that it was too daunting and Lucas ended up directing.

2000s

''Gump & Co.''

''The Corrections''

''Borgia''

On November 2, 2005, Zemeckis had signed on to produce Neil Jordan's historical drama ''Borgia'' through ImageMovers, which eventually became a TV series on Showtime.

''Measle and the Wrathmonk''

''Airman''

''Calling All Robots''

On March 26, 2008, Michael Dougherty was set to direct the animated sci-fi adventure film ''Calling All Robots'' with Zemeckis producing the film through ImageMovers Digital for Walt Disney Pictures.

''Yellow Submarine'' remake

''Stoneheart''

''The Nutcracker''

On November 26, 2009, Zemeckis had signed on to produce and direct the motion capture animated film adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s ''The Nutcracker'' through ImageMovers Digital for Walt Disney Pictures. On July 21, 2016, Universal Pictures revived the adaptation, which may or may not use motion capture, with Zemeckis only set to produce the film and Evan Spiliotopoulos was hired to write the script. There has been no information since.

2010s

''Dark Life'' film

''Timeless''

On September 29, 2010, Warner Bros announced that Zemeckis would produce Mike Thompson's time-travel script ''Timeless'' through ImageMovers.

''The Wizard of Oz'' remake

On November 16, 2010, Warner Bros announced that Zemeckis plans to remake The Wizard of Oz with the original script, but Zemeckis left the project.

''How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack''

On April 14, 2011, Zemeckis had signed on to produce and potentially direct the live-action/animated hybrid film adaptation of Chuck Sambuchino's book ''How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack'' along with The Gotham Group and Sony Pictures Animation. In November that year, Chad Damiani and JP Lavin were hired to write the script.

''Replay'' film

On April 29, 2011, Zemeckis was set to direct the film adaptation of Replay after Ben Affleck left the project. On October 3, 2012, Greg Berlanti was set to direct the film adaptation.

''Animated American''

On May 17, 2011, Zemeckis was slated to produce the live-action/animated hybrid film ''Animated American'' for Disney with Rob Edwards writing the script.

''Major Matt Mason'' film

''Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained''

''Demonologist'' film

On February 22, 2012, Universal Pictures announced plans for a film adaptation of Andrew Pyper’s ''Demonologist'', with Zemeckis producing the film through ImageMovers.

''Taking Flight'' biopic

On August 6, 2012, Zemeckis was set to direct the biographical crime drama ''Taking Flight'' about Colton Harris-Moore, for 20th Century Fox after David Gordon Green dropped out of the project. However, the film fell into development hell and its fate is unknown after Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox was completed.

''The Magic Catalogue''

On October 8, 2012, Disney announced that Jason Fuchs will write Chris Appelhans’s original sci-fi adventure story ''The Magic Catalogue'' and Zemeckis set to produce the film with his ImageMovers production team.

''Rose''

On August 5, 2013, Zemeckis was set to produce Nathaniel Halpern's script ''Rose'' through ImageMovers for Focus Features.

''The Execution of Noa P. Singleton''

On August 21, 2013, Zemeckis was set to produce the film adaptation of Elizabeth L. Silver’s novel ''The Execution of Noa P. Singleton'' through ImageMovers.

''Choas Walking'' film

''Billy Ray'' TV series

On September 24, 2013, it was reported that Zemeckis was set executive produce Clifton Campbell's television series ''Billy Ray'' and direct the pilot episode for Fox.

''The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane'' film

''The Gafin Academy''

On June 8, 2016, Zemeckis was set to co-produce the film ''The Gafin Academy'' with Voltage Films, John & Drew Dowdle set to direct, and Aaron Rapke and Stewart Kaye adapting Danny King’s novel ''School for Scumbags''.

Untitled Genghis Khan tomb hunting film

On August 15, 2017, Zemeckis was set to produce an untitled Genghis Khan tomb hunting film for Universal Pictures, with Evan Spiliotopoulos writing the script and Dwayne Johnson set to produce and potentially star.

Live-action “The Jetsons” TV series

''Steel Soldiers''

On February 6, 2018, Zemeckis was set to produce the sci-fi action film ''Steel Soldiers'' with Ken Kaufman writing the script.

''The King''

On August 29, 2018, Zemeckis was set to direct ''The King'' about Kamehameha I, with Randall Wallace writing the script and Dwayne Johnson set to star at Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.

''The Cove'' TV series

On September 10, 2018, it was reported that Zemeckis would executive produce Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux's television series ''The Cove'' for The CW.

Offers

''Superman'' reboot

On November 1, 2010, Zemeckis was offered to direct a ''Superman'' reboot, but passed on it which led to Man of Steel.

''The Flash''

On May 16, 2017, Zemeckis was offered to direct ''The Flash''.

''Be More Chill'' film adaptation

On October 20, 2018, it was reported that Zemeckis would've produced the film adaptation of Joe Iconis' musical adaptation of the novel Be More Chill through ImageMovers, but Shawn Levy and Greg Berlanti acquired the project.

References

{{Robert Zemeckis

Zemeckis, Robert