Frank Darabont's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Frank Darabont projects in chronological order. During his extensive career, American filmmaker Frank Darabont has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.
1990s
[edit]Fear Itself TV series
[edit]On April 10, 1995, Darabont was set to write and direct an episode for the horror anthology series Fear Itself, a horror anthology series about phobias, with Renny Harlin and Michael De Luca producing for HBO to distribute.[1]
Mine film
[edit]On January 23, 1997, Darabont was writing the feature film adaptation of Robert R. McCammon’s novel Mine with Castle Rock Entertainment set to produce.[2] until January 29, 2004, when Darabont moved the movie to Paramount Pictures and may direct it himself.[3]
Stich in Time
[edit]On January 23, 1997, Darabont was writing Stich in Time a sci-fi film with Joel Silver attached as a producer and Warner Bros. would distribute instead of TriStar Pictures.[2]
Doc Savage film
[edit]On July 7, 1999, Darabont and Chuck Russell were set to co-direct and co-produce a feature film adaptation of Doc Savage, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick codeveloping the story with Darabont and Russell, Arnold Schwarzenegger set to star as Savage, Castle Rock Entertainment will produce the film and Universal Pictures would co-handle film distribution with Warner Bros. Pictures.[4] until January 29, 2004, when Darabont moved the movie to Paramount Pictures and may direct it without Russell.[3]
2000s
[edit]Farenheit 451 film
[edit]On January 31, 2001, Darabont was in negotiations to direct and rewrite Terry Hayes script for the feature film adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, with Castle Rock Entertainment and Icon Productions set to produce and Warner Bros. handling the film’s distribution,[5] until June that same year, Bradbury confirmed that Darabont is set to direct.[6] Ramin Bahrani made the 2018 film adaptation for HBO.
The Martian Chronicles film
[edit]On June 20, 2001, Ray Bradbury also confirmed that Darabont was set to direct the feature film adaptation of the novel The Martian Chronicles.[2]
Indiana Jones and the City of Gods
[edit]The Way of the Rat film
[edit]On October 24, 2002, Darabont was set to executive produce the feature film adaptation of Chuck Dixon, Jeff Johnson and Tom Ryder’s kung fu comic book Way of the Rat, with Chuck Russell set to write & direct the movie, Darabont’s Darkwoods Productions will produce in collaboration with Castle Rock Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures handling film distribution,[7] until January 29, 2004, when Darabont moved the movie from DreamWorks to Paramount Pictures and may direct instead of Russell.[3]
Tokyo Rose
[edit]On June 12, 2003, Darabont was set to direct and executive produce Tokyo Rose, a biopic about Iva Toguri D'Aquino, with Christopher Hampton in talks to write the screenplay and Anna Garduno and Barbara Trembley producing with Darabont’s Darkwoods Productions,[8] and on January 29, 2004, Paramount Pictures would handle film distribution.[3]
Back Roads
[edit]On October 30, 2003, Darabont was set to executive produce the feature film adaptation of Tawni O’Dell’s novel Back Roads, with Todd Field possibly set to direct the screenplay and Anna Garduno and Barbara Trembley producing with Darabont’s Darkwoods Productions,[9] and on January 29, 2004, Darabont was likely attached to direct instead of Field and Paramount Pictures would handle film distribution.[3] In 2018, actor Alex Pettyfer ended up directing the feature film adaptation.[10]
Runt of the Litter film adaptation
[edit]On January 29, 2004, Darabont was set to executive produce and possibly set to direct the feature film adaptation of Bo Eason’s autobiographical play Runt of the Litter with Paramount Pictures handling film distribution,[3] and on January 24, 2007, Eason was writing the screenplay for the feature film adaptation, Darabont was likely going to just produce the film and Castle Rock Entertainment will handle film distribution instead of Paramount.[11]
Rivers in the Desert: William Mulholland and the Inventing of Los Angeles & Water & Power
[edit]On January 29, 2004, Darabont was set to executive produce and possibly set to direct Rivers in the Desert: William Mulholland and the Inventing of Los Angeles at Paramount Pictures.[3] On March 5, 2010, Darabont was set to executive produce and direct the movie entitled Water & Power, with Bruce McKenna writing the screenplay, and Phoenix Pictures producing instead of Paramount.[12]
Standing Down
[edit]On January 29, 2004, Darabont was set to executive produce and possibly set to direct the romance film Standing Down, with Paramount Pictures handling film distribution.[3]
The Long Walk film
[edit]On April 18, 2007, Darabont acquired the rights to direct the feature film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk,[13] which was eventually directed by Francis Lawrence.
The Monkey film
[edit]On April 18, 2007, Darabont acquired the rights to direct the feature film adaptation of Stephen King’s short story "The Monkey",[13] which was eventually directed by Osgood Perkins.
The Veldt/The Illustrated Man film
[edit]On August 29, 2007, Darabont was set to executive produce The Illustrated Man, the feature film adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s short story The Veidt, with Alex Tse writing the screenplay, Zack Snyder directing and producing the film adaptation with Deborah Snyder through their company Cruel and Unusual in collaboration with Denise Di Novi’s company and Warner Bros. Pictures was handling film distribution.[14]
Law Abiding Citizen
[edit]On May 20, 2008, Darabont was set to direct Kurt Wimmer’s crime thriller screenplay Law Abiding Citizen,[15] until he was replaced by F. Gary Gray because of creative differences with the producers.[16]
2020s
[edit]revised Stanley Kubrick American Civil War film
[edit]On May 12, 2021, Darabont wrote a treatment of Stanley Kubrick’s American Civil War movie, once entitled The Downslope, with Ridley Scott executive producing the film.[17]
Offers
[edit]The Huntsman: Winter's War
[edit]On June 26, 2014, Darabont was offered to direct the Snow White and the Huntsman spinoff film The Huntsman: Winter's War,[18][19] before Cedric Nicolas-Troyan was attached to direct.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ Variety Staff (April 10, 1995). "Top helmers on 'Tales' team… Sky-high Sly price". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
"Weird Tales" aims to be a sophisticated take on horror for the adult market, and since the producers have working relationships with Clive Barker and Frank Darabont, they're among a list of creatives being haunted to adapt and direct future episodes.
- ^ a b c Anita M. Busch (January 23, 1997). "A piece of the Rock". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dave McNary (January 29, 2004). "Darabont plays for Par". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
"The other Darkwoods projects include a trio that Darabont also would be likely to direct — biopics "Tokyo Rose" and "Rivers in the Desert: William Mulholland and the Inventing of Los Angeles," along with thriller "Mine." Others include action-adventures "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" and "Way of the Rat," romancer "Standing Down" and dramas "Runt of the Litter" and "Back Roads.""
- ^ Carver, Benedict (July 7, 1999). "Schwarzenegger pumps up pulp hero for WB, U". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Fleming Jr., John (January 31, 2001). "Darabont stokes flames for '451'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Dempsey, John (June 20, 2001). "Bradbury to adapt 'Illustrated' for Sci Fi". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
In a telephone interview, Bradbury reported some other news: Frank Darabont has signed to direct a new theatrical-movie adaptation of "Farenheit 451" for Mel Gibson's Icon Prods. After "Farenheit 451," Bradbury added that Darabont will direct a theatrical of another Bradbury work, "The Martian Chronicles."
- ^ Harris, Dana (October 24, 2002). "D'Works has the 'Rat' stuff". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (June 12, 2003). "'Mile' guy under the spell of Tokyo Rose". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (June 12, 2003). "Field, D'Works take to the 'Back Roads'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Saito, Stephen (2018-12-11). "Interview: Alex Pettyfer on Taking a New Path to His Directorial Debut "Back Roads"". The Moveable Fest. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (January 24, 2007). "'Joey' redo up and running". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Dave McNary (March 5, 2010). "'Shutter Island' helps Phoenix's profile rise". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
Despite the tightened access to funds that has hit the biz, Phoenix is working to advance a substantial slate that ranges from comedies to superhero stories to sci-fi and which includes "Water and Power," the story of William Mulholland that Frank Darabont will direct from a script by Bruce McKenna. (Medavoy notes that when he told "Chinatown" screenwriter Robert Towne about the project, Towne responded by saying, "That's the real 'Chinatown' story.") The drama is based on "William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles," by granddaughter Catherine Mullholland.
- ^ a b Nikki Finke (September 22, 2008). "Why Frank Darabont Told George Lucas 'You're Insane' Over 'Indiana Jones 4'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Kit, Borys (August 29, 2007). "Snyder inks for Warners' 'Illustrated'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Billington, Alex (May 20, 2008). "Frank Darabont Becoming a Law Abiding Citizen Next". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Steven Zeitch; Borys Kit (October 17, 2008). "Gray makes 'Citizen' arrest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Weinstein, Max (May 12, 2021). "Frank Darabont & Ridley Scott Team For New Unproduced Kubrick Project [Exclusive]". Dread Central. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (June 26, 2014). "Frank Darabont In Talks To Direct 'Snow White And The Huntsman 2'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Tatiana Siegel; Rebecca Ford (June 26, 2014). "Frank Darabont in Talks to Direct 'The Huntsman'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (January 20, 2015). "Cedric Nicolas-Troyan to Replace Frank Darabont as 'Huntsman' Director". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.