Ever come out of a movie theater thinking, “That was a really special movie,” and then your mind turns to the movies that weren’t made? There are those moments for each of us when we ask ourselves, “What if?” These legendary lost projects are particularly well-known in science fiction. At times, just a great idea or a big hobby for world-building gets stuck in its head and we end up with nothing more than concept art and rumors.
Jodorowsky’s Legendary Dune Vision
Alejandro Jodorowsky wanted to make a ten-hour-long surrealist film with famous rock stars. The huge budget and non-standard run saw big studios turn away from the project, leaving only astounding concept art behind.
Tarantino’s Bold Star Trek Pitch
Quentin Tarantino was touting his “gritty, character-driven” Star Trek film, one that would give his signature bombastic dialogue to deep space. The film’s script was completed, but the director’s final direction was towards other original film ideas.
The Scrapped Alien 5 Awakening
Director Neill Blomkamp released some spectacular concept art for a sequel that would have passed over some franchise films to return to Ripley. Its development was stalled when it was decided to go with Ridley Scott’s prequel movies.
Abandoned Planet Of The Apes
After the original 1968 cult classic, a number of groundbreaking sequel proposals were advanced, including more sinister social issues and time-traveling paradoxes. Over time, however, producers opted for a more traditional route, and several complicated scripts are left in the archives.
The Lost Independence Day 3
There was also a plan for a third sequel, which would send the human resistance to deep space after the 2016 sequel. Bad box office figures probably ended the mothership, and the intergalactic counterattack was left to imagination.
Lynch’s Bizarre Ronnie Rocket
For several years, David Lynch worked to bring to film a tale of a three-foot-tall rock star and the influence of electricity. This abstraction put investors on their guard, and it never got the script made into a film; it’s one of Lynch’s most personal.
The Stars My Destination Movie
This space-age revenge story has been passed on many times and is frequently described as the best sci-fi novel that never was made into a movie. The world-building and the teleportation effects have been the reason for its inability to hit the big screen, given budget constraints.
Peter Jackson’s Lost Halo Epic
Halo was a video game that once had its biggest Hollywood slate of creativity and was the most anticipated video game adaptation in Hollywood history. The project came to a sudden end due to financial disagreements between the studios and the game creators.
The Animated Calling All Robots
The idea for this project was to create a fun and exciting adventure for the whole family where everything is mechanical! With much promise of early designs and a novel concept, the movie slipped away quietly from the studio’s release list.
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