Sam Raimi's unrealized projects

In 1980, Raimi and Bruce Campbell started the development of Raimi's first feature film, which was titled Book of the Dead, due to Raimi's interest in legendary writer H. P. Lovecraft.[1] The film was supposed to be a horror film starring Campbell in the title role and a remake of Raimi's classic horror short film Within the Woods.[2] However, at the end, both Raimi and Campbell made many changes due to producer Irvin Shapiro's recommendations[3] to the project and the film was finally released in 1981 as The Evil Dead.

After the successful reception of The Evil Dead, Raimi announced that he would direct a comedy film entitled Relentless. The Coen brothers wrote the script for the film, but Raimi didn't like it initially, although Bruce Campbell stated that the script was amazing comparing it with Alfred Hitchcock.[4] However, after some revisions, Irvin Shapiro stated that the title was not good, so Raimi changed the title to The XYZ Murders,[5] but after many changes the film was released in 1986 as Crimewave.

In 1986, after the successful reception of Crimewave, Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis asked Raimi to direct a film adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel Thinner.[6] However, Raimi declined to direct it, because he and Bruce Campbell were interested in making a sequel to The Evil Dead instead of an adaptation of Thinner. The novel's film adaptation was finally released in 1996; it was directed by director Tom Holland.

In 1990, after finishing with the filming of Darkman, Raimi pitched, along with Marvel Comics writer Stan Lee, the concept of a Thor feature film to 20th Century Fox. However, they didn't understand Raimi's and Lee's idea and the project was abandoned.[7] A film based on the Thor property was released years later in 2011 and directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Around the 1990s, after Tim Burton was ousted from the director's chair for Batman Forever after the controversies surrounding Batman Returns, Raimi wanted to direct the film due to his interest in directing a film of a comic book superhero. He also wanted to direct the fourth film in the film series.[8] However, Warner Bros. decided to not hire Raimi as the director and hired The Client director Joel Schumacher to direct it. The film was finally released in 1995 and directed by Schumacher.

In the 1990s, Raimi and his brother Ivan wrote a script entitled The Curse.[9] The film was meant to be a horror film focusing on a character who wants to be a good person, but makes a sinful choice out of greed for her own betterment and pays the price for it.[10] However, development of the project became stalled and Raimi abandoned it to direct Spider-Man. Raimi also tried to convince director Edgar Wright to direct his script in 2007, but he declined.[11] Despite this, after many changes, the film was finally released in 2009 as Drag Me to Hell and directed by Raimi.

In January 2006, Sam Raimi was set to direct The Wee Free Men based on the book of the same name by Terry Pratchett, but in December 2009 Pratchett said that he had "got the rights to the book back" after reading the proposed screenplay.[12][13]

As of September 2006, Raimi has signed a deal to adapt the series into a film. Screenwriter Patrick O'Neill (Knight and Day), was hired to write the script; Raimi will act as producer along with Mike Richardson and Josh Donen.[14]

On December 10, 2006, SuperHero Hype reported that Raimi would co-produce along producer Michael Uslan a new film adaptation of The Shadow for Columbia Pictures.[15] On October 16, 2007, SuperHero Hype reported that Raimi was still planning The Shadow film along his producing partner Josh Donen.[16] However, in 2011, it was reported that Quentin Tarantino would apparently direct the film without the presence of Raimi.[17] At the end, on August 23, 2012, during a Q&A with ShadowFan, Raimi announced that he didn't develop a good script for the film and decided to abandon its production.

On April 18, 2007, Raimi stated that he was open to direct the long time planned The Hobbit film adaptation[18] that was already planned since 1995.[19] However, it was finally decided to divide the book in three films and on April 24, 2008, Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro was selected to direct the film and Peter Jackson was selected to produce it.[20] The films were finally released in 2012, 2013, and 2014 directed by Jackson and written by del Toro.[21]

On May 3, 2007, Raimi announced that after completing Spider-Man 3 he along his brother Ivan would work on Evil Dead 4, a sequel to Raimi's Army of Darkness and the fourth installment in the Evil Dead film series.[22] On July 26, 2008, Raimi stated that Ivan was writing a script for Evil Dead 4.[23] On March 26, 2009, Raimi stayed that Ivan had finished the Evil Dead 4 script.[24] Raimi has stated one of his ideas was to have 2 Ash's one in our time and one in the future, continuing from both endings, until he realized how crazy that would be. In January 2010, the project was cancelled due to Raimi's interest in making a Warcraft film and in 2011, Bruce Campbell revealed via Reddit that Raimi was working in Oz the Great and Powerful.[25] The franchise was later rebooted in 2013 with Fede Álvarez as director, there are hints in the film however that it exists in the same world as the original films. However Ash's story was ultimately continued in the Sam Raimi produced Ash Vs Evil Dead TV series for Starz, Sam also wrote & directed the first episode. After 3 seasons Ash Vs Evil Dead was cancelled, leaving the story with Ash waking in a post apocalyptic future (somewhat like the alternate ending to Army of Darkness). Bruce Campbell announced he was retired from playing Ash ever again, and announced there's a new Evil Dead film in the works (he'll produce) but it will have an urban setting and won't be continuing Ash's story or Fede's Evil Dead. Sam Raimi said in interviews he hopes Bruce isn't retired from playing Ash, because he'd like to make an Evil Dead film with Ash.

Around 2007, after the release of Spider-Man 3, it was announced that Spider-Man 4 was in development and that Raimi would direct it, while Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and the other members of the cast were attached to reprise their roles.[26] Also, it was announced that the fourth Spider-Man film was to be shot back-to-back with Spider-Man 5, while Spider-Man 6 was also in development,[27] but Raimi finally decided to only shoot Spider-Man 4 at that moment. James Vanderbilt was to write the film and its two planned sequels;[28] although David Koepp was also considered to write it.[29] Also, on December 8, 2009, it was reported John Malkovich was slated to portray the Vulture while Anne Hathaway was slated to portray Black Cat.[30] Also, years later, it was revealed that Bruce Campbell was slated to portray Mysterio.[31][32] However, on January 11, 2010, it was officially reported that Sony Pictures had cancelled the production of Spider-Man 4 after Raimi concluded that he was not going to be able to release the film in time with a not so exciting script.[33] The franchise was later rebooted in 2012 with Marc Webb as director.

In March 2008, Paramount Pictures and Sam Raimi were set to develop the graphic novel Monster Zoo from Doug TenNapel.[34] However, the movie is in development hell.

In March 2008, Paramount Pictures were in talks with Sam Raimi to direct a new Jack Ryan franchise.[35] Paramount chose Kenneth Branagh for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

On July 22, 2009, Blizzard Entertainment reported that Raimi was hired to direct a film adaptation of its popular video game Warcraft entitled World of Warcraft.[36] However, on July 13, 2012, it was announced that Raimi would not direct the Warcraft film because he was working on Oz the Great and Powerful and he needed to finish its post-production.[37][38] The film was finally released in 2016 as Warcraft and directed by Duncan Jones.

In August 2008, Tom Cruise and Sam Raimi were in the process of creating a movie adaptation of Sleeper with Warner Bros., in which Cruise may have starred[39] and Brad Inglesby is writing the screenplay, but this rumor went cold. In November 2013, the magazine Variety reported that Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Todd took over the film as producers and Shawn Ryan and David Wiener to pen the film.[40] Since then, there have not been any further announcements, falling into development hell.

In January 2009, Siavash Farahani announced he has written a Ruse film script for Disney with Sam Raimi directing the project.[41] Since then, there have been no further announcements.

In October 2009, Brad Miska announced that Scott Derrickson will direct the American remake of The Substitute and co-wrote the script with Paul Harris Boardman and Raimi producing the project for Columbia Pictures.[42] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

In June 2010, Brad Miska announced that Neil Marshall will direct Burst and Raimi producing the project.[42] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On July 19, 2010, Deadline announced that DreamWorks will develop the adaptation of M. Zachary Sherman's Earp: Saints For Sinners with Raimi directing and producing the project with David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, and Radical Studios’ Barry Levine, with Matt Cirulnick writing the script.[43] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On September 28, 2010, Deadline reported that ABC, Raimi and Robert Zotnowski will produce the Dee Johnson series about a top LA female prosecutor.[44] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On September 28, 2010, Deadline reported that Fox, Raimi and Robert Zotnowski will produce the Brian K. Vaughan series Smokers, a drama about a documentary crew following working class heroes who exterminate alien threats in deep space.[44] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On September 28, 2010, Deadline reported that CBS, Raimi and Robert Zotnowski will produce the Andrew Lipsitz series Lanchester, about a Scotland Yard detective who joins the LAPD.[44] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On September 29, 2010, Vulture reported that Warner Bros, Raimi and Bill Block will produce the Andrew Marlowe script EDF,[45] and hired Danny Strong for rewrites in December 2010.[46] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On 6 October 2010, Deadline reported that Good Universe, Furst Films and Raimi's Ghost House banner will produce the adaptation of R.L. Stine's novel The Sitter, from a Dana Stevens script with the title, The Au Pair.[47] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On 20 October 2010, Deadline reported that Mandate Pictures, Don Murphy, Mark Gordon and Raimi's Ghost House banner will produce the adaptation of John Wyndham's novel The Day of the Triffids.[48] On 23 January 2014, Mike Newell will direct the remake and Neil Cross wrote the script.[49] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On November 11, 2010, A possible live action feature based on the anime series has been planned for development by the cable television network Starz.[50] Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert are the executive producers for the project. Steve Lightfoot was serving as executive producer and writer but was replaced by Sean Jablonski.[51][52] In June 2011, Starz gave a greenlight to the show with a straight to series order. The number of episodes of the first season has yet to be determined, though some speculated it will likely be in the 8–13 episode range.[53] In March 2012, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht commented that production has been put on hiatus as he states in an interview, "We're in a bit of holding pattern with Noir."[54] Then in December of that year, two new writers, Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff, were announced to have joined the project and were undergoing re-writes of Jablonski's scripts.[55] By January 2013, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht announced that the project remained at a standstill citing difficulty to get the project creatively to a good place.[56]

On 23 May 2011, Deadline reported that RT Features and Raimi's Ghost House Pictures will produce the Peter Ackroyd's novel The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, with David Auburn writing the script.[57] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On 19 October 2011, NBC ordered the pilot Vanish from Moonlight co-creator Trevor Munson about a man with a mysterious past who protects deserving people from danger, and helps them disappear, with Raimi producing and Michael Dinner would direct the potential pilot.[58] The pilot wasn't greenlight.

On 12 March 2012, Deadline reported that Raimi and David Cronenberg will produce Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald's TV series based on Wendy Moore's novel The Knifeman, for Media Rights Capital with Cronenberg directing the pilot.[59] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

Around 2012, after Rob Marshall's departure from direct Pirates of the Caribbean 5, The Walt Disney Company wanted to hire Raimi to direct the film.[60] However, at the end, Raimi declined, although he accepted to direct Oz the Great and Powerful. The film was released in 2017 as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg.

In 2012, Deadline reported that Kelly Asbury was in the talks with Sony Pictures Animation to make an animated fantasy film titled Kazorn & The Unicorn. It would've followed the adventures of a young man and a unicorn as he seeks to locate a powerful weapon and prove his worth to his true love. Lloyd Taylor was writing the screenplay. Sam Raimi, Josh Donen and Russell Hollander were producing.[61] However the project was cancelled after no news came and problems at Sony Pictures Animation.

On 25 July 2012, Deadline reported that Raimi will produce the first adaptation of Michael Grant's book series BZRK, to start a franchise for Columbia Pictures with Michael Ross writing the script.[62] There have been no further announcements since.

In November 2012, Deadline reported that Good Universe and Raimi's Ghost House will produce the adaptation of Susan Ee's book Angelfall.[63] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

At the SXSW premiere, Álvarez announced that a sequel was in the works.[64][65] In addition, Sam Raimi confirmed plans to write Evil Dead 4 with his brother; it was later specified that this film would be Army of Darkness 2.[66] At a WonderCon panel in March 2013, Campbell and Álvarez stated that their ultimate plan was for Álvarez's Evil Dead 2 and Raimi's Army of Darkness 2 to be followed by a seventh film which would merge the narratives of Ash and Mia.[67] On October 30, 2013, co-writer Rodo Sayagues confirmed to DeadHollywood that he and Álvarez would not return for the sequel.[68] That same month, Álvarez took to his Twitter that the rumor was not true.[69][70]

In November 2018, Fede announced that “This is just concepts for the moment. I have nothing to announce official. We have a scenario for Don't Breathe 2 this is the true difference. There is no script for Evil Dead 2, but we have written a for Don’t Breathe 2. “ he also said that “When I tweeted, it was because I was interested in what people preferred to see. I was in the process of discussing what people wanted to see. Unfortunately, this is Evil Dead 2, which won out. I would have liked this to be Don’t Breathe 2, because this is one of my own creations. Obviously, the Evil Dead has a much wider audience. “[71]

On March 7, 2013, Variety reported that The Walt Disney Company had put in development a sequel to Raimi's Oz the Great and Powerful with James Franco and the other actors attached to reprise their roles.[72] However, the next day, Raimi stated via Bleeding Cool that he had declined to direct the sequel due his work in the Evil Dead remake.[73] There have been no further announcements since.

On March 6, 2014, IGN reported that Raimi was attached to produce a film adaptation of the Naughty Dog's popular video game The Last of Us, while Neil Druckmann was attached to write it.[74] However, on April 4, 2016, it was reported that the film had fallen in development hell.[75] On November 15, 2016, Raimi stated that the film was abandoned because Sony Pictures had some problems with Druckmann.[76]

In October 2014, Deadline reported that Raimi is in talks to direct the adaptation of Matthew Quick's book Love May Fail for Columbia Pictures from a Mike White script.[77] In November 2015, it was reported that Raimi will not direct the film as TriStar Pictures took over the movie and Emma Stone is set to play the lead.[78]

In October 2014, Raimi was set to produce the film adaptation of The Blade Itself, with Aaron Stockard writing the script and Tobey Maguire starring and producing the film.[79] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On July 20, 2015, it was reported that NBC was developing a Xena reboot series, with Raimi and Tapert returning as executive producers, with the show's debut sometime in 2016. Insiders also requested that Lawless returns to the series as Xena, as well as take up a role in the show's production.[80] A day later, Lawless tweeted that the reboot is a rumor.[81] On August 13, 2015, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt confirmed the reboot is in development. It was announced from Entertainment Weekly that Javier Grillo-Marxuach will serve as writer and producer for the reboot. In a post on Tumblr Grillo-Marxuach made the statement that they will be "fully exploring a relationship that could only be shown subtextually in first-run syndication in the 1990s,"[82] which several websites such as The Guardian[83] and Newsweek[84] have taken it to mean "Xena will be an out and proud lesbian."[84] These articles have resulted in frustration from fans regarding the apparent erasure of Xena's bisexuality, but Grillo-Marxuach has answered "it feels like – from a few sentences – everyone has already made up their mind about what it is I am doing. I would prefer people be surprised by the story."[85] In April 2017, Grillo-Marxuach announced that he had left the project because of "insurmountable creative differences."[86] On August 21, 2017, NBC announced that it had cancelled its plans for the reboot. NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said, "I'd never say never on that one because it's such a beloved title but the current incarnation of it is dead."[87][88]

In October 2015, Empire announced that Corin Hardy will direct Refuge from Tom De Ville's script and produced by Raimi.[89] Since then, there have been no further announcements since.

On December 7, 2015, NBC ordered the Sam Raimi produced series Miracle Man from The Great Debaters writer Robert Eisele with Kevin Sorbo producing and starring as Jason Greene, a decorated Army Ranger who is nearly killed in Afghanistan and discovered he has the power to make miracles happen.[90]

On 22 January 2016, Deadline reported that Raimi is in talks to direct Sony's remake of A Prophet, with Neal H. Moritz & Tobe Jaffe producing, and Dennis Lehane writing the script.[91] The remake eventually became Rapman's "American Son".[92]

On February 26, 2016, it was confirmed that Raimi is attached to direct the upcoming film World War 3 for Warner Bros.. The film will be based on a possible future inspired by the book The Next 100 Years by George Friedman.[93] There have been no further announcements since.

On June 3, 2016, it was confirmed that Raimi is attached to produce and possibly direct the film Stormfall for Warner Bros, and is looking for writers to pen the script.[94] There have been no further announcements since.

On February 16, 2017, it was reported that Raimi will be directing a thriller about the Bermuda Triangle for Skydance Media, with the script being written by Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard.[95] On March 4, 2020, it was reported that Skydance replaced Raimi with Scott Derrickson for the movie.[96]

On January 29, 2018, it was announced that Raimi was set to direct the first movie in the big-screen adaptation of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle series, The Name of the Wind, with Rothfuss and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda serving as executive producers.[97] Raimi was no longer involved with the project since December 2018.[98] There have been no further announcements since.