Wikipedia

Steven Soderbergh's unrealized projects

The following is a list of unproduced Steven Soderbergh projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.[1][2]

Soderbergh in 2009

1980s

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Edward Ford

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In the 1980s, Soderbergh was one of many directors attached to direct Lem Dobbs's screenplay Edward Ford, a drama about an obsessive-compulsive disorder patient trying to become a Hollywood actor, for 20th Century Fox.[3]

The Last Ship

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After the success of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Soderbergh had planned on adapting the post-apocalyptic novel The Last Ship by William Brinkley as his next film. It was set to be produced by Sydney Pollack.[1] After several unsatisfactory screenplay drafts however, Soderbergh would ultimately choose to abandon the project in favor of making Kafka.[4]

1990s

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Quiz Show

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[1][2]

Leatherheads

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[1][2]

Toots and the Upside-Down House

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Main article: Tim Burton's unrealized projects § Toots and the Upside Down House

Human Nature

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Main article: Human Nature (2001 film) § Production

Neurotica

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[1]

The Locked Room

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[5][1]

The Crowded Room

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In 1997, Soderbergh was attached to direct The Crowded Room, based on Daniel Keyes' non-fiction novel The Minds of Billy Milligan, after the rights were optioned by Warner Bros. He wanted to cast Sean Penn in his version.[6]

2000s

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A Confederacy of Dunces

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On June 23, 2003, Soderbergh was set to co-write with Scott Kramer the screenplay for David Gordon Green's adaptation of the novel A Confederacy of Dunces.[7]

Cleo

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On October 23, 2008, it was announced that Soderbergh was planning to direct a 3D live action rock and roll musical titled Cleo, with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Hugh Jackman portraying Cleopatra and Marc Antony respectively; Gregory Jacobs and Casey Silver signed on to produce the film. The music for the projected $30 million production was written by the indie rock band Guided by Voices, with screenplay by James Greer, a former bass player for the group.[8] In December that year, Ray Winstone was in talks to portray Julius Caesar.[9] On January 2, 2009, Jackman dropped out of the project.[10] On September 4, 2009, Soderbergh weighed the possibility of making Cleo or a proposed Liberace biopic, which became Behind the Candelabra, before retiring.[11] On June 16, 2012, Zeta-Jones admitted on The View that she and Soderbergh would try to make it as a Broadway stage show.[12]

Untitled Leni Riefenstahl biopic

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In 2008, while filming The Informant!, Soderbergh and Scott Z. Burns were writing a script for a biopic about Leni Riefenstahl, but ultimately chose to make Contagion after weighing the commercial prospects between the projects.[13][14]

Moneyball

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Main article: Moneyball (film) § Development and pre-production

The Limey sequel

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On July 12, 2009, Jules Asner revealed on Adam Corolla's podcast that Soderbergh wanted to make a sequel to The Limey,[15] and Soderbergh revealed the following September that he and Lem Dobbs were writing the screenplay with a focus on new characters while collaborating on Haywire.[16]

2010s

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Making Jack Falcone

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On March 4, 2010, Soderbergh was set to produce the biographical crime film Making Jack Falcone with Peter Buchman writing the screenplay and Benicio Del Toro set to portray FBI agent Jack Garcia for Paramount Pictures.[17]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

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On November 16, 2010, Soderbergh was set to direct the film adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. with Scott Z. Burns writing the screenplay and John Davis and David Dobkin producing.[18] In 2011, George Clooney was set to star, but left the due to a back injury.[19] On October 20, 2011, Bradley Cooper was set to replace Clooney,[20] but in November that year, Soderbergh dropped out as director and Guy Ritchie was hired to replace him.[21][22]

The Sot-Wood Factor TV series

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Main article: The Sot-Weed Factor (novel) § Adaptation

Planet Kill

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In February 2018, Soderbergh was set to produce and possibly direct Scott Z. Burns and James Greer's original action thriller Planet Kill, with Studio 8 set to produce.[23]

Emin Pasha TV miniseries

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In April 2018, Soderbergh was in the process of developing a six-part miniseries written by Lem Dobbs about the life of 19th-century adventurer Emin Pasha.[24]

Florida Man TV series

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In 2019, Soderbergh was set to produce Florida Man, an Elmore Leonard-style TV series with BenDavid Grabinski attached as the showrunner after replacing Michael Waldron.[25] On June 4, 2021, the project evolved into a buddy cop movie, then retitled Gator and the Egg, with Gabinski writing the screenplay, Stacey Sher, Michael Shamberg, John Henson and Soderbergh producing, and Tricia Brock set to direct through Amazon Studios.[26]

2020s

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High Flying Bird sequel

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On May 19, 2020, Soderbergh was possibly going to direct and produce a sequel to High Flying Bird that Andre Holland was working on for Netflix.[27] On September 24, 2020, Soderbergh confirmed that the sequel's screenplay was written.[28]

Sex, Lies, and Videotape sequel

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Main article: Sex, Lies, and Videotape § Possible sequel

The Knick TV series spinoff

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On September 24, 2020, Soderbergh was set to only executive produce a spinoff of The Knick starring Andre Holland, with Jack Amiel and Michael Begler writing the series and Barry Jenkins attached to direct and produce.[28]

Contagion sequel

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On December 30, 2020, Soderbergh announced that a "philosophical sequel" to his film Contagion was in the works.[29]

Offers

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Death Becomes Her

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In 1989, Soderbergh was offered the chance to direct David Koepp's screenplay Death Becomes Her around the release of Sex, Lies, and Videotape for Universal Pictures, but he recommended Robert Zemeckis to direct it instead.[30]

Fifty Shades of Grey

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On May 9, 2013, Soderbergh was considered to direct the feature film adaptation of E. L. James' novel Fifty Shades of Grey, as well as the sequels, for Universal Pictures, long before Sam Taylor-Johnson was hired to direct the film adaptation.[31]

The Long Goodbye sequel

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In 2019, Soderbergh was offered via a text message from Elliott Gould the chance to direct the sequel to The Long Goodbye.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Taylor, Greta (July 12, 2015). "A Soderbergh Escapade: The Unrealized Projects of Steven Soderbergh". The-Solute. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Thapa, Shaurya (May 24, 2021). "5 Movies Steven Soderbergh Almost Directed (& 5 You Didn't Know He Produced)". Screen Rant.
  3. ^ Dessem, Matthew (November 15, 2012). "The Great American Unproduced Screenplay". Slate. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Gabriel, Trip (November 3, 1991). "Steven Soderbergh: The Sequel". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Sengupta, Somini (January 5, 1997). "Charlie Chan, Retooled for the 90's". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Fleming, Michael (December 8, 1997). "DeVito checks into 'Room'". Variety. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Rooney, David (June 23, 2003). "A stage of 'Dunces'". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Elsa Keslassy; Michael Fleming (October 23, 2008). "Soderbergh to make 3-D 'Cleopatra'". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Simon (December 3, 2008). "Winstone joins Zeta-Jones's 'Cleo'". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Billington, Alex (January 2, 2009). "Hugh Jackman Steps Out of Steven Soderbergh's Cleo". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. ^ Billington, Alex (September 4, 2009). "Steven Soderbergh Updates Cleo, Liberace, and Moneyball". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Bustos, Kristina (June 16, 2012). "Catherine Zeta-Jones: 'I want to play Cleopatra on Broadway'". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (March 11, 2011). "Steven Soderbergh Reveals He Dropped A Leni Riefenstahl Biopic To Do 'Contagion' Instead". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (September 23, 2013). "Soderbergh Says Abandoned Leni Riefenstahl Biopic Would Focus On Director Battling The Studio System". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Billington, Alex (July 12, 2009). "Steven Soderbergh is Interested in a Sequel to The Limey?". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  16. ^ Billington, Alex (September 16, 2009). "Soderbergh Updates Us on Liberace, Cleo, and Limey Sequel". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  17. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (March 4, 2010). "Bennie And The Feds' New Mafia Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  18. ^ Kit, Borys (February 1, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Steven Soderbergh Taking on 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  19. ^ Kit, Borys (September 7, 2011). "George Clooney back injury forced 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' exit, says writer". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Kit, Borys (October 20, 2011). "Bradley Cooper may cry 'U.N.C.L.E.'". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Perez, Rodrigo (November 18, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: Steven Soderbergh Spies Other Plans, Won't Direct 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (December 8, 2011). "Guy Ritchie And Lionel Wigram Join 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Busch, Anita (February 1, 2018). "Studio 8 Acquires 'Planet Kill' For Steven Soderbergh To Produce, May Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  24. ^ Perez, Rodrigo (April 12, 2018). "Steven Soderbergh Shooting 'Panama Papers' Movie Next, Title Revealed". The Playlist. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  25. ^ "Unmade Retrospective: BenDavid Grabinsk Part 2". Best Movies Never Made. September 25, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Busch, Anita (June 4, 2021). "Amazon Lands Buddy-Cop Film 'Gator and the Egg' & Sets 'Bridgerton's Tricia Brock To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  27. ^ Hersko, Tyler (May 19, 2020). "André Holland Is Working on a 'High Flying Bird' Sequel". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Perez, Rodrigo (June 29, 2011). "'The Knick' Returns: Steven Soderbergh Says Barry Jenkins & André Holland Are Plotting A New Season & A Pilot Is Written [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  29. ^ Hersko, Tyler (December 28, 2020). "Steven Soderbergh Working on 'Philosophical' Sequel to 'Contagion'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Lang, Brent (January 26, 2024). "Why Steven Soderbergh Turned Down Directing 'Death Becomes Her': 'This Is So Far Beyond My Capability'". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  31. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 9, 2013). "'50 Shades of Grey' Flirts with Director Joe Wright". Variety. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (September 29, 2019). "Elliott Gould Texted Steven Soderbergh About Making the Sequel to 'The Long Goodbye'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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