Five Films In Development Hell

Development Hell, the place many films end up.  No matter how many writers, producers or directors try, these movies just never seem to escape.  Whether it is a matter of money, creative differences, change of taste or a mixture of both, many movies have found themselves suffering this fate.  Some movies have escaped and others still stand languishing in a sort of purgatory, not yet made but not yet in Hell.

Here’s a short list of five genre films that are residing Development Hell.  Some stand a hopefully decent chance at life, though I will say the first is pretty much as dead a doornail.  Some might view the first as a bit a cheat, but the concept is worthy of placement.

Title: Alien 3
Director: Vincent Ward
Year:  1992

Story: Asleep aboard the Sulaco Ellen Ripley, along with Newt and Hicks, are jettisoned from the ship.  The tubes crash onto a wooden, artificial planet that is controlled by an order of Monks who have made an artificial world hearkening back to the Middle Ages.  Newt and Hicks are killed in the crash landing, Ripley however survives, a woman alone on a planet of men.  Imprisoned by the Monks and with an alien on the loose, Ripley must find a way to destroy it once and for all.

  • Why It Died: Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Dream Master) had departed the project because Fox refused to invest in the massive war film he wanted to do.  Vincent Ward was brought in to write and direct, his story was certainly different in its complete design.  The film was almost made, sets were already being built in England when Fox pushed Ward to ditch the Monk angle and go for a prison planet.  Like Harlin, Ward left over creative differences.   Fox recruited David Fincher and the script once again was rewritten, this time for a prison planet.  Sets meant for Ward’s film were adapted for Fincher and the rest as they say is history.
  • Potential For Life:  Zippo to nil when it comes to a feature film.  Unless the story can somehow fit into a sequel for the Alien prequel Ridley Scott is cooking up, highly doubtful.  In the grand scheme of things, I think a graphic novel will be the only way to see Ward’s story brought to some sort of life.  

Title: Full Moon Fever
Director: Renny Harlin
Year:  2004

Story: Based on the graphic novel by Joe Casey, the sci-fi story is centered on a group of workers sent to do some routine work on a lunar base.  When they arrive, they find the base deserted, except for a pack of vicious werewolves.

  • Why It Died:  Werewolves on a moon base, its so simple its brilliant.  Like many films, after initial news of its existence, it disappeared.  My speculation is that it came down to a simple case of money; either the budget was deemed to large or it never came together.  
  • Potential For Life:  Compared to Alien 3, this I think has a good potential for a new life.  It might depend on how Dead Space will perform when it gets released.  If it proves successful, I think we’ll see a rise in space oriented horror films and hopefully this cool concept will see the screen.   

Title: The Ill
Director: George A. Romero
Year:  2000

Story: The story focused on a college slacker that ends up getting turned into one of the bloodsucking undead.

  • Why It Died:  What would have been Romero’s second vampire film, Ill simply disappeared from the radar, chances are financing and then Romero’s involvement with Land of the Dead killed the project.  To this day, Ill has never resurfaced.
  • Potential For Life:  The success of the Underworld and Twilight franchises along with smaller films like Let the Right One In has sparked a renewed interest in vampires.  Hopefully like what happened with the resurgence of zombies and Land, someone will court Romero about his take on vampires; which would certainly contain Romero’s usual social commentary.

Title: From Buick 8
Director: Tobe Hooper
Year:  2009

Story: Based on the Stephen King novel, the film focuses on the son of a police officer who discovers a Buick languishing in the police garage.  The car however, is far more sinister than it appears.

  • Why It Died: Well, compared to other films on the list, this film is still in production to be technical.  But it has a bit of a history where at one point George A. Romero and Mick Garris were at various points going to direct before it landed in Hooper’s lap.  However the constant delay is because of the financing not coming together.
  • Potential For Life:  Hard to call this one, but as it’s still listed as ‘in production’, it may stand a better chance than the other films on this list.  The American Film Market is coming next month some funding might be raised via pre-sell; so hopefully we’ll hear some news.

Title: Diamond Dead
Director: George A. Romero
Year:  2004 now 2011

Story: Based on the script by Brian Cooper; a woman accidentally kills a 1980s metal band and feeling guilt over what happened, she signs a pact with the devil to bring them back.  The band returns and becomes the hottest gig, despite the fact their zombies.

  • Why It Died: I feel bad including two Romero movies, however the black comedy sparked a lot of interest back in 2004.  It would have marked Romero’s return to the zombie genre and would have been produced by Ridley & Tony Scott.  However like The Ill, the movie was apparently put on the backburner when Universal offered to produce Romero’s apocalyptic opus Land of the Dead.  
  • Potential For Life:  Last year it came out that the project had been reborn and was apparently moving forward.  However with no real news since then, hard to tell.  But like Buick 8, with the AFM arriving next month, maybe we’ll hear some news.

There you go, a short list of five movies that have drifted away.  There are numerous other projects, large and small that have disappeared over the years either quietly or loudly.  Buick 8 and Diamond Dead so far stand as the best chance of getting made, but hopefully Full Moon Fever and The Ill also come to life.  

What are some other films that folks remember that have just vanished over the past few years?