David Fincher's unrealized projects

Fincher was set to direct the film, a spec script written by Howard Roth and Eric Warren Singer about two priests who engage in a killing spree after discovering God is nonexistent. The film would ultimately fail to obtain a green-light.[1]

Fincher acquired the rights to Katie Arnoldi's novel that took place in the bodybuilding world, with Art Linson producing and Fight Club novelist Chuck Palahniuk writing the screenplay. Fincher eventually exited the project, with Jonas Åkerlund taking over as director. The project would become dormant.[2][3]

Fincher, along with Art Linson, purchased the script written by David Ayer in April 2000, a coming-of-age story set on a nuclear submarine during the Cold War.[4] The film never developed further, and in 2012, Ayer spoke negatively on the script, stating it "sucked".[5]

Fincher entered discussions to direct the film in August 2000 about Col. Wendell Fertig, a soldier serving in the Philippines during World War II. The screenplay was written by William Nicholson.[6] Fincher reiterated his intent to direct in January 2009, revealing Robert Towne had been brought in to rewrite the screenplay, and Brad Pitt was wanted to portray Fretig.[7]

In November 2000, Fincher was set to direct an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain's memoir Kitchen Confidential, which Art Linson would produce, and Brad Pitt reportedly interested to star as well as Benicio del Toro. The project was set to film once Fincher completed Panic Room.[8][9] The book would instead be adapted for television as Kitchen Confidential starring Bradley Cooper as fictional version of Bourdain, which aired for one season in 2005, airing just four episodes.[10]

In 2001, Fincher was announced as directing an adaptation of Frank Miller's three issue comic book series that would see Nicolas Cage star in the lead role.[11]

As early as 2001, Fincher was attached as director for an adaptation of the Arthur C. Clarke book, with Morgan Freeman attached to star.[12] Fincher stated in 2007 he still planned to direct,[13] but by 2008 he stated it was unlikely to be made as no script was written.[14] Fincher reiterated his desire to still make the film in 2010, but it was still down to the matter of finding the right script.[15]

Fincher was amongst several directors approached to direct an adaptation of the Marvel Comics character that would eventually be directed by Sam Raimi. Fincher described in a 2011 interview concepts he wanted to do in the film, such as a ten minute title sequence tackling Peter Parker's backstory and featuring Green Goblin killing Gwen Stacy.[16]

Fincher was hired to replace musician Fred Durst on the skateboarding biopic in 2003, but exited over budget and philosophical differences with Sony Pictures. Catherine Hardwicke would eventually direct the final product.[17][18]

Fincher was sought out by Tom Cruise to serve as director for the third instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Fincher was looking to make the film “really violent”.[19] However he would eventually pull out of the film, and said in a 2008 MTV interview “I think the problem with third movies is the people who are financing them are experts on how they should be made and what they should be. At that point, when you own a franchise like that, you want to get rid of any extraneous opinions. I'm not the kind of person who says, "Let's see the last two, I see what you're going for." You'll never hear me say, "Whatever is easiest for you”.[20]

Prior to the 2006 film version directed by Brian De Palma, Fincher was going to adapt James Ellroy's novel into a 5-part miniseries budgeted at $80 million that would star Tom Cruise.[21][22]

Fincher was announced in 2006 to direct the adaptation of the Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko graphic of the same name about Eliot Ness and his investigation of the Cleveland Torso Murderer.[23] Fincher indicated that the film would not be a very faithful adaptation of the comic.[24] A cast of Matt Damon, Rachel McAdams, Casey Affleck and Gary Oldman was rumored to be attached prior to Paramount Pictures allowing the rights to the comic lapse in January 2009.[25][26]

Paramount Pictures and Fincher had teamed in November 2007 to make an adaptation of the Matz French comic book The Killer. Fincher would direct with Allesandro Camon writing the screenplay and Plan B Entertainment producing.[27]

In 2008, it was announced Fincher was to produce a remake of the 1981 film, itself based on the Heavy Metal magazine. It was planned to feature eight or nine segments, with Fincher, James Cameron, Zack Snyder, Kevin Eastman, Tim Miller and Mark Osborne directing segments, and Guillermo del Toro and Gore Verbinski reported as expressing interest in taking part as well.[28][29][30] Tenacious D had written a song for the film, with Jack Black also set to appear in Osborne's segment.[31]

The project was initially at Paramount Pictures, but was dropped by the studio in 2008.[32] Eventually, Robert Rodriguez acquired the film rights to Heavy Metal, effectively cancelling Fincher's version.[33]

Fincher acquired the rights to the A. Lee Martinez novel in July 2008, planning to make the film with Blur Studio.[34]

Fincher discussed in December 2008 a project he was looking to do set within the culinary arts world that would star Keanu Reeves.[35] In 2010, the project was considered "dead".[36] The film would eventually be released in 2015 as Burnt, directed by John Wells and starring Bradley Cooper.[37]

It was announced by Fincher in 2010 that he was to direct a remake of the 1954 Disney film, with Scott Z. Burns writing the screenplay.[38] Filming was initially planned to begin in late 2012, with Brad Pitt eyed to star.[39][40] Pitt would decline the role, however.[41] The production received a $20 million incentive to film in Australia,[42] but Fincher would exit the project in July 2013, citing casting disagreements with Disney, as he wanted to cast Channing Tatum for the lead role, but Disney wanted Chris Hemsworth.[43][44]

Fincher became attached to a new telling of the story of Cleopatra starring Angelina Jolie in March 2011.[45] Fincher confirmed his involvement later that year, stating Eric Roth was working on the screenplay and that he wasn't looking to make it in a typical sword-and-sandal style. [46] He left the project in August 2012.[47]

Upon the December 2011 release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the American adaptation of the Stieg Larsson novel, Fincher revealed the plan was to make the sequels The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, "back to back."[48] The script for Who Played with Fire was revised by Steven Zaillian and Andrew Kevin Walker at various stages.[49][50] Upon the release of The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, Sony Pictures elected to reboot the series instead with an adaptation of the new novel. It was released in 2018, directed by Fede Álvarez and starring Claire Foy. Fincher served as an executive producer.[51]

Fincher became interested in making an American remake of the British television series Utopia in July 2013.[52] By February 2014, he teamed with author Gillian Flynn and began developing the series at HBO, which gave it a series order.[53][54] Fincher was set to direct all the episodes of the show's first season, with Flynn writing.[55][56] The series would have seen Rooney Mara, Colm Feore, Eric McCormack, Dallas Roberts, Jason Ritter, Brandon Scott, and Agyness Deyn star, however due to budget issues HBO cancelled the project in August 2015.[57] Fincher stated in an October 2017 interview that it was specifically a disagreement over $9 million.[58] The series was picked up by Amazon Studios in 2018, with Flynn remaining onboard as creator, executive producer and showrunner.[59]

Fincher entered early talks to direct a biopic about Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs in February 2014.[60] However he would bow out in April over contractual disputes.[61]

It was reported in January 2015 that Fincher was to re-team with Gone Girl actor Ben Affleck and screenwriter Gillian Flynn on a modern update of Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 film for Warner Bros.[62] In a July 2015 interview, Flynn remarked all three individuals were "overcommitted" at the time.[63]

Fincher was hired to direct the sequel to 2013's World War Z in June 2017, with filming arranged to begin in June 2019 before Paramount Pictures cancelled the project in February 2019.[64][65] A cited reason for the cancellation was China imposing a ban on films featuring zombies and ghosts.[66]