Draft:Shawn Levy's unrealized projects


The following is a list of unproduced Shawn Levy projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, Canadian film director Shawn Levy has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell, were officially cancelled, or would eventually be completed by a different production team.

2000s

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The Way Back

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On April 30, 2007, it was announced Levy would direct the coming-of-age comedy-drama The Way Back, written by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, for Fox Searchlight Pictures, with production expected to begin in mid-June.[1] Rash and Faxon would eventually direct the project themselves, which was ultimately retitled The Way, Way Back and released in theatres on July 5, 2013.[2]

2010s

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Untitled action adventure film

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On February 3, 2011, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had acquired an original action adventure pitch by Carlton Cuse for Hugh Jackman to star and Levy to direct.[3]

Fantastic Voyage remake

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On February 7, 2011, it was announced that Levy had been selected to direct a remake of the science fiction film Fantastic Voyage (1966) by producer James Cameron and 20th Century Fox, with Laeta Kalogridis polishing a screenplay by Shane Salerno; Levy was to have replaced Paul Greengrass.[4] On January 7, 2016, it was announced that Guillermo del Toro would be taking over as director, with David S. Goyer now writing the screenplay.[5]

Frankenstein

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On August 24, 2011, it was announced that Levy was entering talks with 20th Century Fox to direct a new film based on Frankenstein, from a screenplay by Max Landis.[6] The project would eventually be directed by Paul McGuigan and released on November 25, 2015, as Victor Frankenstein, with Levy ultimately uninvolved.[7][8]

The Three Misfortunes of Geppetto

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On October 14, 2011, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had acquired the spec script The Three Misfortunes of Geppetto, a prequel to The Adventures of Pinocchio written by Mike Vukadinovich centered around Geppetto, as a directing vehicle for Levy.[9]

City That Sailed

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On November 14, 2013, it was announced that Levy would direct the adventure film City That Sailed for 20th Century Fox, with Audrey Wells writing the screenplay and Will Smith starring.[10]

Minecraft

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On October 16, 2014, it was announced that Levy would direct Minecraft, a film adaptation of the video game by Mojang Studios, for Warner Bros. Pictures, with Roy Lee and Jill Messick producing.[11] On December 9, it was announced that Levy had departed the project, along with writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney, due to creative differences.[12] The film was ultimately directed by Jared Hess and will be released in theatres on April 4, 2025.[13]

Steelheart

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On July 22, 2015, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had set Carter Blanchard to adapt the Brandon Sanderson 2013 novel Steelheart, the first installment in The Reckoners series, as a potential directing vehicle for Levy.[14]

Bill Graham: My Life Inside Rock and Out

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On February 17, 2016, it was announced that Levy would direct a biographical film about music promoter Bill Graham for 20th Century Fox, based on the autobiography Bill Graham: My Life Inside Rock and Out that Graham co-wrote with Robert Greenfield.[15] On January 5, 2017, it was announced that Zach Dean would write the screenplay for the film.[16]

Starman remake

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On April 1, 2016, it was announced that Levy would direct a remake of the John Carpenter film Starman (1984) for Sony Pictures, with Arash Amel writing the screenplay; Levy would also produce the remake alongside Michael Douglas, who had also produced the original film.[17] In August 2021, Levy stated that the project was "far horizon, or you could say unlikely", as he had not found a draft he felt was worthy enough of remaking the title.[18]

Uncharted

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On October 25, 2016, it was announced that Levy would direct the action adventure film Uncharted, based on the video game series of the same name, for Sony Pictures, with Joe Carnahan writing the most recent draft of the screenplay.[19] On May 22, 2017, it was announced Tom Holland had been cast as Nathan Drake, with the film being reconfigured to serve as a prequel to the games.[20] Rafe Judkins was rewriting the script by January 2018, with producer Charles Roven describing the film as an "origin story".[21] On December 19, 2018, it was announced Levy had departed the film in order to prioritize working on Free Guy.[22] The film was eventually directed by Ruben Fleischer and released in theatres on February 18, 2022.[23][24]

The Fall

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On May 17, 2017, it was announced that levy would direct and produce the science fiction film The Fall, written by Pete Bridges, for Amblin Partners.[25]

Crater

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On November 8, 2017, it was announced that Crater, a science fiction spec script by John Griffin, had been acquired by 20th Century Fox and that Levy was in negotiations to direct and produce the project.[26] On January 12, 2021, it was announced that Kyle Patrick Alvarez would direct the project instead, with Levy only serving as a producer, with the film moving to a Disney+ release after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[27] The film was released on Disney+ on May 12, 2023.[28]

2020s

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Backwards

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On February 9, 2022, it was announced that Levy would direct the science fiction film Backwards for Netflix, based on the short story by Julianna Baggott and Finneas Scott, with Levy's 21 Laps also producing the project alongside Safehouse Pictures, with Baggott also serving as an executive producer.[29]

References

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  1. ^ McClintock, Pamela; Gilstrap, Peter (April 30, 2007). "Levy to direct 'Way Back'". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  2. ^ McNary, Dave (May 1, 2013). "'The Way, Way Back' to Close Los Angeles Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 3, 2011). "Fox Reunites 'Real Steel' Team Of Hugh Jackman And Shawn Levy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 7, 2011). "Fox And James Cameron Tap Shawn Levy For 3D 'Fantastic Voyage'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Kit, Borys (January 7, 2016). "Guillermo del Toro in Talks to Direct 'Fantastic Voyage' Remake (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 24, 2011). "Shawn Levy Eyeing Fox's 'Frankenstein'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (September 5, 2012). "'Sherlock' Director Boards Fox's 'Frankenstein'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Busch, Anita (June 11, 2015). "Fox Switches 'The Martian' and 'Victor Frankenstein' Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 14, 2011). "Fox Buys Pinocchio Prequel For Shawn Levy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 14, 2013). "Shawn Levy To Direct Fox's 'City That Sailed' With Will Smith Aboard To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 16, 2014). "Shawn Levy Boards 'Minecraft' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 9, 2014). "Shawn Levy Leaves Warner Bros.' 'Minecraft' Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  13. ^ McClintock, Pamela (5 April 2023). "Jason Momoa's 'Minecraft' Books April 2025 Release Date in Theaters". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 22, 2015). "Carter Blanchard To Adapt Fox's Anti-Superhero Tale 'Steelheart' For Shawn Levy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 17, 2016). "Shawn Levy To Helm Biopic Of Iconic Rock Promoter Bill Graham For Fox, 21 Laps". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 5, 2017). "Zach Dean To Script Bill Graham Film For Fox & Shawn Levy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  17. ^ McNary, Dave (April 1, 2016). "'Starman' Remake in the Works at Sony; Shawn Levy Directing". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Weintraub, Steve (August 7, 2021). "Shawn Levy on His 'Starman' Remake and the Status of More 'Unsolved Mysteries'". Collider. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 25, 2016). "Shawn Levy To Direct 'Uncharted'; Playstation Videogame Movie On Fast Track". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  20. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 22, 2017). "'Spider-Man's Tom Holland To Play Nathan Drake In 'Uncharted' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Busch, Anita (January 20, 2018). "Charles Roven: A Q&A With The PGA's David O. Selznick Honoree Reveals When He Knew He Really Made It In Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024. It's an origin story that evolves out of the game but is not from the game. Shawn Levy is going to be directing it and a young writer Rafe Judkins is currently writing the screenplay.
  22. ^ "'Uncharted' Movie Adaptation Loses Director Shawn Levy". ComicBook.com. December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  23. ^ Lang, Brent (January 10, 2020). "'Venom' Director Ruben Fleischer Eyed for 'Uncharted' Movie". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Moreau, Jordan (April 1, 2021). "Tom Holland's 'Uncharted' Release Date Delayed One Week". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 17, 2017). "Shawn Levy To Direct Amblin's Sci-Fi Pic 'The Fall'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Kroll, Justin (November 8, 2017). "Fox and Shawn Levy Team on Sci-Fi Spec 'Crater' (EXCLUSIVE)".
  27. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 12, 2021). "Kyle Patrick Alvarez To Direct 'Crater' For Disney Plus And 21 Laps Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "'CRATER' STARRING ISAIAH RUSSELL-BAILEY, SCOTT MESCUDI AND MORE GETS MAY RELEASE DATE AT DISNEY+". Blavity. March 30, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 9, 2022). "Netflix Lands De-Aging Father-Daughter Tale 'Backwards' For Shawn Levy To Direct; 21 Laps & Safehouse Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.

Category:Lists of unrealized projects by artist