List of unproduced films based on Marvel Comics imprints publications

In 2001, Sony Pictures had optioned the comic series for a film production, commissioning a writers room.[1] After development seemed to have stalled, Sony shifted focus in creating a tv show based on the comic instead.[1]

After the cancellation of Razorline, Clive Barker sold the film rights of his comic series Ectokid to Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures, in 2001.[2][3] The film was set to have Barker, Don Murphy, and Nickelodeon's Albie Hecht and Julia Pistor as producers, Joe Daley as executive producer, and Karen Rosenfelt overseeing development at Paramount. Since then, there have been no further development news.

On October 8, 2002, Marvel Studios announced a movie deal for Prime with Universal Pictures, after securing the rights to The Hulk.[4] In 2003, Marvel released an earnings report listing a Prime film as "to be determined".[5] Since then, there have been no further development news.

In July 2008, Warner Bros. announced its intention to bring the Elfquest saga to the big screen, with Rawson Marshall Thurber serving as writer and director. The format (live action, CGI, or traditional animation) is yet unknown. However, it was confirmed on Elfquest's official Facebook page that Warner Bros. ultimately canceled the project; the ostensible reason is that Warner Bros. didn't want the film competing with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. In 2013 there are rumours of recapping the project on behalf of the producers of a fanmade trailer which appeared a few years ago.[6] Since then, there has been no further announcements.

In the early 1990s, an ad for a multi-volume animated adaptation of Elfquest appeared in the comic. A few issues later, the Pinis told readers they'd withdrawn from the deal, and that readers should ask for refunds. Those who didn't, eventually received a 50-minute VHS tape from Abby Lou Entertainment, copyright 1992. Covering the first volume of the book, it consists of color still images taken straight from the comic, some minor animation, and spoken dialogue.[7]

In late 2008, Robert Rodriguez and his production company Troublemaker Studios were working on a remake of Red Sonja that would have starred Rose McGowan as the titular character.[8] McGowan was originally intended to portray the character, with the film set for a 2010 release, but these plans were halted by injuries that permanently damaged the mobility and strength of her right arm.[9] By 2009, the Rodriguez project had been scrapped, and by February 2010, Nu Image planned another new film, to be directed by Simon West. Producer Avi Lerner has said he would like to see Amber Heard take the role of Sonja, after having worked with her on Drive Angry. Lerner says the film will shoot before the sequel to Conan the Barbarian.[10] In August 2012 at the premiere of The Expendables 2 West said that the film was stuck in production.[11] On February 26, 2015, Christopher Cosmos had been hired as a screenwriter for the film.[12][13] Filmmaker Mike Le Han made a pitch to direct the film.[14] Recent developments surfaced when, in November 2017, Deadline reported that Millennium Films will finance and produce a new Red Sonja movie with Avi Lerner and Joe Gatta producing alongside with Cinelou Films’ Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon and writing by Ashley Miller.[15][16] In September 2018, The Hollywood Reporter has reported that the studio is eyeing Bryan Singer to direct the film.[17] In October 2018, Singer signed on to direct the film.[18] On February 11, 2019, Millennium Films announced Red Sonja was no longer on their slate of films, due to recent sexual abuse allegations against Singer.[19] In March 2019, Lerner dropped Singer from the project because he was unable to secure a domestic distributor.[20] In June 2019, Jill Soloway signed on to write, direct and produce the movie.[21]

In January 2009, Siavash Farahani announced he has written a Ruse film script for Disney with Sam Raimi directing the project.[22] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

In November 2009, Carl Potts' Alien Legion screenplay was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and The Walt Disney Company.[23] In 2010, Bruckheimer exercised the option, buying the screenplay and assigning Game of Thrones show runner David Benioff to do a rewrite. There have been no announcements since, ending up in development hell.

In May 2010, Incognito was optioned for a film by 20th Century Fox, with Robert Schenkkan penciled in as the screenwriter.[24] The film was picked up by Columbia Pictures, with 10 Cloverfield Lane screenwriter Daniel Casey writing the script and Fede Alvarez directing.[25] Since then, there have been no further production announcements.

The rights to make a Nemesis film were optioned by 20th Century Fox. Tony Scott was set to direct it before his death, in conjunction with his Scott Free production company.[26] In August 2010 it was reported that Joe Carnahan was working on the screenplay for the film.[27] On March 6, 2012, Carnahan was confirmed as the director, and will be writing the script with his brother Matthew Carnahan.[28] In December 2012, Carnahan announced via Twitter that he is indeed working on the screenplay for the film.[29] On October 4, 2013, Deadline reported that Mark Millar has seen the script for Nemesis and has given praise to Joe and Matthew's take on his comic book character, stating the film is going to be "massive".[30] On February 9, 2015, Millar said that the script by Joe Carnahan is finished and that, if Kingsman: The Secret Service does well at the box office, the film may start filming this year.[31] On August 10, 2015, it was announced that Warner Bros will adapt the film.[32] Since then, there have been no further development news.

In May 2011, Disney and CrossGen were developing a Way of the Rat film based on the comic book series of the same name.[33] Since then, there have been no further announcements.

In April 2012, while Kick-Ass 2 was still in pre-production Mark Millar stated that a third film was also planned.[34] In June 2013, however, he revealed that it was not confirmed and would be dependent on how successful the second film was.[35] Later the same month he further elaborated that if it went ahead, the third film would be the final installment: "Kick-Ass 3 is going to be the last one... I told Universal this and they asked me, ‘What does that mean?’ I said, ‘It means that this is where it all ends.’ They said, ‘Do they all die at the end?’ I said, ‘Maybe’ – because this is a realistic superhero story... if someone doesn't have a bullet proof vest like Superman, and doesn't have Batman’s millions, then eventually he is going to turn around the wrong corner and get his head kicked in or get shot in the face. So Kick-Ass needs to reflect that. There has to be something dramatic at the end; he cannot do this for the rest of his life."[36] Moretz has shown interest in returning for a third installment and would also be interested in exploring Hit-Girl's dark side: "I want to see something we haven't seen yet. Now we've seen who Mindy is, now we've seen who Hit-Girl is, I think we need to meld the characters together and have Mindy become Hit-Girl and Hit-Girl become Mindy. Maybe her natural hair has a streak of purple in it, maybe she really does go kind of crazy and go a bit darker since she lost her father." She also added, "I would only do the third one if it was logical. It needs to be a good script and a director, probably Matthew (Vaughn). The third film needs to fully wrap up the series and has to be a good note to end on."[37]

On August 30, 2013, Millar stated that the film is "in the pipeline".[38] In May 2014, while at a press junket for Godzilla, Taylor-Johnson stated he is still up for a third film but he is not contracted for it and there are no plans for one currently.[39] In the same month, Christopher Mintz-Plasse revealed he had not heard anything but expressed doubt that a third film would happen due to the second installment's disappointing box office performance.[40] In June 2014, Chloë Grace Moretz echoed her co-stars' sentiments when asked about Kick-Ass 3, stating that "I hope, I wish. That'd be fun. That'd be great. I doubt it but I would love it". She also cited the second film's lower box office gross as the key obstacle to the third chapter being produced and suggested file sharing was a factor: "The hard thing is if fans want a third movie, they’ve got to go buy the ticket to go see the movie. It was like the second most pirated movie of the year, so if you want a movie to be made into a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth, go buy a ticket. Don't pirate it."[41] In June 2018, Matthew Vaughn announced his intention to set up Marv Studios, under which banner he will produce a reboot of the Kick-Ass series.[42]

Both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have said that they would "consider" appearing in a fourth Men in Black film.[43] Jones said it would be "easy to pick up where we left off. We know what we are doing, we know how to do it. It's just a hell of a lot of fun."[44] In July 2012, Columbia chief executive Doug Belgrad said, "We're very pleased with the financial performance of Men in Black 3, and we believe it is an ongoing franchise. We're going to do [another one], but we don't have clarity yet on how it should be done."[45] Director Barry Sonnenfeld said, "Will's kind of really smart, but as I said, kind of really annoying, too much energy. When he would get too rambunctious, I would tell him save that for Men in Black 4, Will is out and [his son] Jaden Smith is in … if we continue on this path, it won't be released until 2032 but it will be damn good." Will Smith said, "Jaden is already 13 years old, so he's at that mythological boys age, you know–it's time for his bro-mitzvah. So he's right at that place ... He's ready to test me so he can't come anywhere near my movies right now!"[46] In early 2013, Oren Uziel was writing a Men in Black 4 screenplay for Sony Pictures.[47] On September 24, 2015, series producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald stated the series would be rebooted as a trilogy, most likely without the involvement of Will Smith.[48]

In April 2014 it was announced 20th Century Fox had picked up the rights to a feature film based on the comic series Superior.[49] In January 2016, Variety reports that Fox hired Brandon and Phillip Murphy to write the film's script while Matthew Vaughn and Tarquin Pack will produce the film.[50] Millar tweeted that he would like to see John Cena cast as Superior.[51]

In August 2014, Chloë Grace Moretz reiterated her previous statements and said "sadly, I think I'm done with Hit-Girl".[52] In January 2015, Millar revealed to IGN that there was a planned Hit-Girl film with Gareth Evans directing but it was cancelled.[53] In February 2015, Matthew Vaughn, who directed the first film, spoke optimistically about a "Hit-Girl" prequel. He stated "If that happens, I’m pretty sure I can persuade Aaron and Chloe to come back and finish the story of Kick-Ass."[54][55] On June 17, 2015, Vaughn stated in an answer to Yahoo that he is working on a prequel on how Hit-Girl and Big Daddy became superheroes and plans to make Kick-Ass 3 after.[56][57] Since then, talks of any prequel have ceased.

On December 10, 2014, it was revealed that Sony was planning a crossover between Men in Black and Jump Street. The news was leaked after Sony's system was hacked[58] and then confirmed by the directors of the films, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller during an interview about it.[59][60] James Bobin was announced as director in 2016.[61] On April 13, 2016, the movie was announced and revealed to be titled, MIB 23.[62] However, development has since appeared to cease.[63] In June 2019, a spin-off of Men in Black 3 titled Men in Black: International, starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, included Emma Thompson as Agent O.[64][65]

In March 2015, a film adaptation of Crash Ryan was announced to be in development, with Ryan Heppe producing.[66] Since then, there have been no further announcements.

On July 17, 2018, a film adaptation of Empress was announced to be in development for Netflix, as part of the first slate of films adapted from comics under Mark Millar's imprint Millarworld, with Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum producing, and Lindsey Beer writing the script.[67]