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User:FrostFairBlade/sandbox/John Woo's unrealised projects

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The following is a list of unproduced John Woo projects in roughly chronological order. During his career, film director John Woo 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 cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

1990s[edit]

Untitled melodrama film written by Quentin Tarantino[edit]

  • In 1992, Woo met director Quentin Tarantino in Toronto when he screened Hard Boiled (1992) at the city's Festival of Festivals.[1]
    • Tarantino, a big fan of Woo's, was impressed by Hard Boiled, and promised the director that he would write a script for him within a month

Kato[edit]

  • During the production of Hard Boiled (1992), filmmaker Oliver Stone inquired to see if Woo would like to direct a Warner Bros. kung fu film called Kato[2]
  • This movie would star Phillip Rhee as a martial artist
  • However, this project fell apart; according to Woo, the studio executives considered him a neophyte director and did not give him "respective pay"

Pin Cushion[edit]

Shadow War[edit]

  • Following the release of Hard Target (1993), Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert offered Woo the chance to direct a thriller film called Shadow War at Universal[5][6]
  • However, it eventually did not come to fruition[7]

Tears of the Sun[edit]

  • Around the same time that he was developing Shadow War, Woo was also working with 20th Century Fox to make Tears of the Sun[6]
  • This was a project that had been in development for several years, with multiple writers contributing to its script[8]
  • Woo said in a 1995 interview with the South China Morning Post that he had been location scouting for eight months in preparation for making the film, but scheduling issues caused the project to fall apart[9]
    • Woo would go on to make Broken Arrow (1996) for 20th Century Fox

Ring of Blood[edit]

  • Also reported around the same time as Shadow War and Tears of the Sun, Woo was in talks with 20th Century Fox to direct an action comedy film called Ring of Blood[8]
    • This movie would be about a Chinese police officer seeking revenge for the death of his mother

Mafia Cop[edit]

  • In February 1994, Variety reported that New Line Cinema paid Woo a seven-figure sum to film an action movie about a Florida police officer and the mafia[10]
  • This project would later be given the working title Mafia Cop,[8] and its script would be written by Roger Avary, who helped write Pulp Fiction (1994)[11]

The Serpent's Tooth[edit]

The Devil's Soldier[edit]

  • An April 1996 report by The Asian Wall Street Journal noted that Woo was working with Tom Cruise on The Devil's Soldier, based on the novel by Caleb Carr about the life of an American mercenary in the Qing Dynasty[11][13]
  • However, this project was cancelled for budgetary reasons[14]

King's Ransom[edit]

  • A 1997 article in The New York Times stated that Woo would start filming a comedy called King's Ransom the following year[15]
  • In 1998, the Los Angeles Times reported that the movie was in development at 20th Century Fox and would likely begin production once Woo finished Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)[16]
  • According to a report by Ain't It Cool News in 1999, Woo had originally developed the film as a traditional action movie working with writer John McCormick, but over time wanted to rework it into a more playful caper film with more lightheartedness and romance[17]
    • The screenwriters from Face/Off (1997), Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, were brought in to deliver rewrites featuring a love triangle between a female jewel thief, her partner-in-crime, and an FBI agent
    • However, 20th Century Fox was expecting a script more in line with a traditional John Woo action movie, and insisted the film be reworked so that an A-list movie star would be interested in signing on
    • Because of the delays, Woo instead focused on Mission: Impossible 2
  • In a 2000 interview with Asiaweek, Woo stated that he had been anticipating making King's Ransom with Chow Yun-fat, stating that he hoped that the film "will help Hollywood see [Chow's] true quality and talent."[18]
  • In another 2000 interview, this time with Première, Woo said: "The character changed. We're still working on a script. It's a very delightful Cary Grant kind of movie, young, with a lot of romance and energy."[19]
  • Woo confirmed in 2003 that the project was cancelled, saying, "The script kept changing and changing, and it lost the original taste."[20]
  • However, Woo and his longtime producer, Terence Chang, tried again in 2009 to provide the film under the Fox International Productions banner, with former assistant director Patrick Leung potentially helming the project[21]

The Last Word[edit]

  • In March 1998, Variety reported that TriStar Pictures had lined up The Last Word, a period Western film for Woo and Chang to produce[22]
    • Reportedly, the studio paid a six-figure sum for the spec screenplay

The Phantom of the Opera remake[edit]

  • Sometime during the late 1990s, Woo had been considered a candidate to direct a movie remake of The Phantom of the Opera musical
  • According to Woo, John Travolta, who was a fan of the musical, approached him with the idea of making the musical in his style; however, the project did not materialise[23]

2000s[edit]

The Killer Elite remake[edit]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film[edit]

  • In October 2000, it was reported that Woo, Chang, and a couple of other companies would create the production company Digital Rim[26]
    • This new company would serve to create and distribute digital pictures, video games, and computer-generated imagery for film and television
  • In June of the following year, it was announced that Digital Rim would collaborate with Mirage Studios to develop and produce an animated film based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise[27][28]
  • Digital Rim had already produced a television pilot for a TMNT CG-animated series, hoping that networks would be interested;[27] however, an August 2001 update by IGN confirmed that the idea for the television series was scrapped[29]
  • The TMNT film was tentatively scheduled for a Christmas 2002 release[30]
  • However, Woo confirmed in a 2003 interview with Patrick Macias that the TMNT film was not going to happen[20]

The Line[edit]

  • As early as July 2001, Woo was attached to The Line, a period film starring Chow Yun-fat about a Chinese railroad worker who vows to get revenge on those who sold him into slavery
  • Later reportedly titled Men of Destiny and Land of Destiny, Nicolas Cage was rumoured to be attached to the project[31][32][33]

Mighty Mouse film[edit]

Charlie Chan film[edit]

  • In the spring of 2003, Woo was rumoured to be producing a film of the fictional detective Charlie Chan; it was meant to star Lucy Liu under Lion Rock Productions[36][37]

Metroid film[edit]

  • In April 2004, Woo confirmed he optioned the film rights to the Metroid video game series via Tiger Hill Games[38]
  • Woo would be producing the movie and given the option to direct it; The Hollywood Reporter asserted that the film would be releasing by Christmas 2005[39]
  • However, Nintendo producer Yoshio Sakamoto refuted the reported release date[40]
  • In a 2012 interview with IGN, Tiger Hill co-founder Brad Foxhoven stated the project fizzled out; he claimed that Nintendo was apprehensive about outside writers handling their franchises ever since the box office failure of Super Mario Bros. (1993), but couldn't provide in-depth answers about Samus Aran's backstory raised by the filmmakers[41]

Spyhunter film[edit]

  • Woo was briefly attached to a Spyhunter film as reported in May 2004,[42] but had left by 2005 due to scheduling conflicts[43][44]

Rainbow Six film[edit]

  • Woo was also involved with a potential Rainbow Six film adaptation[45]

He-Man film[edit]

Le Cercle Rouge[edit]

Demonik video game and film[edit]

  • In 2005, Woo's Tiger Hill Entertainment announced that they would work together with director Clive Barker on Demonik, an action-adventure game developed by Terminal Reality and published by Majesco[50][51]
  • Demonik was intended to also have an accompanying movie, with Barker retaining the option to write and direct it[52]
  • The game was scheduled to release in the spring of 2005,[53] but was cancelled in January of that year after Majesco had a poor fiscal quarter[54][55]

Untitled thriller film for StudioCanal[edit]

  • In May 2005, Variety reported that Woo's Lion Rock Productions would partner with StudioCanal to make modernised remakes of three French thriller films[56]
  • The following month, it was announced that Woo would return to China to direct and produce a then-untitled thriller film for Bristol Bay Productions and StudioCanal[57]
  • This movie would be about an American who becomes embroiled in a struggle between Chinese government officials and the underworld forces behind China's underground economy[58]

Caliber film adaptation[edit]

  • Prior to announcing what would become The Crossing (2014), it was reported in July 2008 that Woo was attached to direct an adaptation of Radical Comics' Caliber, itself a retelling of the Arthurian legend[59]
  • This was refuted by Woo in November 2009, where he cited scheduling issues[60]

Flying Tigers[edit]

  • Woo stated in a press conference in July 2009 that he was planning to make a World War II historical film about the Flying Tigers.[61][62]
  • In August 2010, IMAX Corporation announced that Woo would be releasing the movie in IMAX format, and that shooting would begin the following spring[63][64]
  • Woo remarked that he would like Liam Neeson to be cast in a leading role[65]
  • By April 2013, it was reported that the film would be released as a two-part feature film in China, and a six-hour min-series internationally[66][67][68]
  • However, in a 2022 interview with Deadline, Woo said that it had been difficult to find financial backing for the historical epic, due to the film's scope and requisite amount of special effects[69]

Le Samouraï[edit]

  • As early as October 2009, Woo was reportedly interested in remaking another Melville film, Le Samouraï (1967)[70]
  • This movie is one of Woo's favourites, as he had written a tribute to it that was included in the The Criterion Collection's DVD release of the movie[71]
  • In an August 2010 interview with Variety, Woo stated he hoped to attract A-list actors for an English-language remake of the movie[72]
  • In a January 2013 interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Woo said that American writers were working on the script for it, and that partially due to German funding, the movie would likely shift settings from Paris to Berlin[73][74]

Untitled film about Marco Polo[edit]

  • Around the same time as when he announced he was working on Le Samouraï, Woo mentioned that he had another project about Marco Polo in development[75]

Day of the Beast[edit]

  • In 2012, Woo announced that he would direct a remake of Seijun Suzuki's Youth of the Beast (1963) called Day of the Beast[76]
  • His and Chang's Lion Rock Productions would co-produce the film with Nikkatsu's Naoki Sato, based on a script written by Rob Frisbee[77][78]
  • In a 2014 interview with Time Out Hong Kong, Woo reiterated his intention to work it, noting that the movie needed financing[79]

2010s[edit]

Septet: The Story of Hong Kong[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Scott, Jay (17 September 1992). "The uninscrutable John Woo in person". The Globe and Mail. pp. E.1. Retrieved 16 June 2024 – via ProQuest. While in Toronto, Woo met the hot young American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, director of Reservoir Dogs; Tarantino was so blown away by Hard Boiled, he's promised to write Woo a script "within a month." "It's supposed to be shot," Woo says, "in Los Angeles, and a little bit in Hong Kong."
  2. ^ Keeley, Pete (24 August 2018). "'Hard Target' at 25: John Woo on Fighting for Respect in Hollywood". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ Eller, Claudia (12 January 1993). "Fox mulls playing 'Pat' hand; TriStar woos Woo". Variety. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Sharon Stone in line for wooing of Woo line". South China Morning Post. 17 January 1993. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ^ Corliss, Richard (23 August 1993). "John Woo: The Last Action Hero". Time. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b Stokes & Hoover, p. 310, Hong Kong Calling.
  7. ^ Havis, Richard James (18 June 2023). "How filming Hard Target taught John Woo some hard lessons about Hollywood". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "Fox signs Woo to production deal". United Press International. 2 November 1994. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Woo's back in action". South China Morning Post. 28 April 1995. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ^ Cox, Dan (17 February 1994). "New Line wins next Woo pic". Variety. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b Stein, Peter; Bannon, Lisa (9 April 1996). "Box-Office Punch: Hollywood Rushes to Recruit A Piece of Hong Kong Action". The Asian Wall Street Journal. Victoria, Hong Kong: Dow Jones & Company. p. 1. ISSN 0377-9920. Retrieved 12 June 2024 – via ProQuest. According to Mr. Woo's partner, Terence Chang, projects in the works with other studios include a film for New Line Cinema -- called "Mafia Cop" and scripted by Roger Avary, who helped write "Pulp Fiction" -- and a project with Tom Cruise called "The Devil's Soldier," which is under negotiation with Paramount.
  12. ^ Petrikin, Chris; Carver, Benedict (26 March 1998). "Kassar & Vajna redux". Variety. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ Blair, Iain (30 August 2010). "Man who built a bridge to Asian talent". Variety. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  14. ^ Macias 2005, p. 173.
  15. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (30 June 1997). "A Specialist In Esthetics Of Offbeat Violence". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  16. ^ Desowitz, Bill (25 October 1998). "Dashing Criminals Are Back in Revival of '60s Cool Capers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  17. ^ "More on the John Woo project King's Ransom". Ain't It Cool News. 30 June 1999. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  18. ^ Chung, Winnie (30 June 2000). "The Next Mission". Asiaweek. Vol. 29, no. 25. CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  19. ^ Thompson 2005, p. 153.
  20. ^ a b Macias 2005, p. 172.
  21. ^ Fleming, Michael (18 May 2009). "Fox in Chinese production with 'Ransom'". Variety. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  22. ^ Petrikin, Chris; Cox, Dan (18 March 1998). "TriStar has 'Last Word'". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  23. ^ Thompson 2005, p. 154.
  24. ^ Vejvoda, Jim "Stax" (13 March 2001). "John Woo Takes on Bloody Sam". IGN. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  25. ^ Knowles, Harry (12 March 2001). "John Woo to produce a remake Sam Peckinpah's The Killer Elite". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  26. ^ Muttalib, Bashirah (26 October 2000). "Digital Rim has global ambitions". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  27. ^ a b Swanson, Tim (20 June 2001). "Woo, Digital, Mirage on 'Turtles' pic". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  28. ^ Linder, Brian (30 June 2001). "John Woo & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Real Deal". IGN. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  29. ^ Linder, Brian (31 August 2001). "Heroes in a Half-Shell". IGN. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  30. ^ "John Woo resurrects Ninja Turtles franchise". The Guardian. 21 June 2001. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Who Are the Men of Destiny?". IGN. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  32. ^ Fleming, Michael (31 March 2002). "Woo's man of 'Destiny'". Variety. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Woo lassoos Cage for new Western". The Guardian. 26 June 2002. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Finally". Los Angeles Times. 2 November 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  35. ^ Verrier, Richard; Eller, Claudia (29 September 2003). "Disney Pushed Toward Digital". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  36. ^ Vejvoda, Jim "Stax" (24 April 2003). "A Charlie's Angel for Charlie Chan". IGN. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  37. ^ Vejvoda, Jim "Stax" (19 February 2004). "The Stax Report's Pulp Movie Update". IGN. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  38. ^ Calvert, Justin (7 April 2004). "John Woo options Metroid movie". GameSpot. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  39. ^ Gaudiosi, John (7 April 2004). "Woo exploring 'Metroid' film". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  40. ^ Bramwell, Tom (24 August 2004). "Metroid movie not in production". Eurogamer. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  41. ^ Schneider, Peer (28 December 2012). "Whatever Happened to the Metroid Movie?". IGN. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  42. ^ Brodesser, Claude (20 May 2004). "U Woos helmer to 'Spy' for vidgame adaptation". Variety. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  43. ^ James, Alison (10 May 2005). "Woo view: Redo coup". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  44. ^ Graser, Marc; Garrett, Diane (1 June 2007). "Universal restarts 'Spy Hunter'". Variety. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  45. ^ McNary, Dave (3 June 2004). "Woo helming Clancy's 'Rainbow' for Par". Variety. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  46. ^ Harris, Dana (4 October 2004). "Woo masters 'He-Man'". Variety. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  47. ^ "Woo-Man And The Masters Of The Universe". Empire. 4 October 2004. Archived from the original on 5 November 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  48. ^ Fleming, Michael (18 October 2004). "Woo drawn to 'Circle'". Variety. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ^ Frater, Patrick (12 February 2007). "Asia's French accent". Variety. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  50. ^ Thorsen, Tor (19 May 2005). "Clive Barker and John Woo get Demonik". GameSpot. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  51. ^ Gibson, Ellie (9 May 2005). "Clive Barker, John Woo unite". Eurogamer. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  52. ^ Adams, David (9 May 2005). "John Woo, Clive Barker Team for Next-Gen". IGN. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  53. ^ Calvert, Justin (20 May 2005). "Demonik E3 2005 Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  54. ^ Adams, David (19 January 2006). "Majesco Sees Red, Titles Dead". IGN. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  55. ^ Bramwell, Tom (19 January 2006). "Majesco cans two games, shifts to budget/handheld". Eurogamer. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  56. ^ James, Alison (10 May 2005). "Woo view: Redo coup". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  57. ^ McNary, Dave (14 June 2005). "Woo to toil on native soil". Variety. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  58. ^ Vespe, Eric (15 June 2005). "John Woo going back to China for next pair of flicks". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  59. ^ Frater, Patrick (17 July 2008). "John Woo fires off 'Caliber'". Variety. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  60. ^ Marshall, Rick (17 November 2009). "John Woo Not Directing 'Caliber,' Has No Interest In Superhero Movies". MTV News. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  61. ^ O'Hara, Helen (7 June 2009). "John Woo Plans World War II Epic". Empire. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  62. ^ Connelly, Brendon (6 July 2009). "John Woo To Direct International War Epic About The Flying Tigers". /Film. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  63. ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (30 August 2010). "John Woo Makes IMAX Debut With 'Flying Tigers'". Deadline. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  64. ^ "Woo's Flying Tigers film to be Imax". CBC News. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  65. ^ Landreth, Jonathan (19 August 2010). "John Woo, Imax expand 'Tigers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 December 2023. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  66. ^ Horn, John (23 April 2013). "John Woo to direct 'Flying Tigers' as two-part feature". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  67. ^ Guidry, Ken (23 April 2013). "John Woo's WWII Epic 'Flying Tigers' To Arrive As Feature Film & Extended, 6-Hour Miniseries". IndieWire. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  68. ^ McNary, Dave (23 April 2013). "Cyrte, China Film Board John Woo's 'Flying Tigers'". Variety. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  69. ^ Shackleton, Liz (18 July 2022). "John Woo On His Return To U.S. Filmmaking, New Project About Columbia University Donor Dean Lung & Remake Of 'The Killer'". Deadline. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  70. ^ Fischer, Russ (8 October 2009). "John Woo Considering Two English-Language Projects; Wants To Remake Le Samouraï". /Film. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  71. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (11 September 2005). "The New Season Film/DVDs: Le Samouraï". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  72. ^ Chang, Justin (30 August 2010). "Woo lives to make movies". Variety. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  73. ^ Beddies, Peter (29 January 2013). "Ein eiskalter Engel kommt nach Berlin". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  74. ^ Fischer, Russ (30 January 2013). "John Woo Continuing Development Of 'Le Samouraï' Remake, Will Transplant Story To Berlin". /Film. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  75. ^ Lim, Dennis (22 November 2009). "John Woo revisits Chinese roots with 'Red Cliff'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  76. ^ McClintock, Pamela (16 May 2012). "Cannes 2012: John Woo Set to Remake Classic Japanese Mafia Pic 'Youth of the Beast'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  77. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (16 May 2012). "John Woo to Direct and Produce Yakuza Film 'Day of the Beast'". IndieWire. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  78. ^ McNary, Dave (16 May 2012). "John Woo to helm, produce 'Beast'". Variety. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  79. ^ "Interview: John Woo". Time Out Hong Kong. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  80. ^ Chan, Wing-si 陳穎思 (27 July 2022). "七人樂隊｜吳宇森「歸隊」拍片力撐：令我們想到將來會有更好的事" [Septet: John Woo "returns" to support the film: It makes us think of better things to come]. HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  81. ^ "《七人樂隊》映後分享（嘉賓：杜琪峯先生）" [Post-screening sharing of Septet (Guest: Mr. Johnnie To)]. Hong Kong Film Critics Society (in Traditional Chinese). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

Cited literature[edit]

Further reading[edit]

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