Jon M. Chu's unrealized projects

During his extensive career, American filmmaker Jon M. Chu 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.

2000s

Moxie

In the 2000s, Chu was attached to direct his modern-day Romeo and Juliet screenplay Moxie, with Steven Spielberg producing and mentoring Chu at Amblin Entertainment.[1]

hip-hop Bye Bye Birdie remake

By August 10, 2003, Chu was attached to direct a hip-hop remake of Bye Bye Birdie, with Stuart Blumberg writing and producing the film through Red Wagon Productions along with Lucy Fisher and Rachel Shane for Columbia Pictures to distribute,[2] but it wasn’t greenlit because of budget concerns.[3]

The Great Gatsby film

On February 18, 2008, Chu was attached to direct the feature film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald book The Great Gatsby, with Columbia Pictures handling film distribution,[3] until the film was moved to Warner Bros. Pictures and Baz Luhrmann was hired to direct instead.[4]

2010s

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe reboot

By July 30, 2012, Chu was in talks to direct a He-Man and the Masters of the Universe feature film with Alex Litvak and Mike Finch writing the screenplay, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch would produce through Escape Artists, and Columbia Pictures was handling film distribution.[5] Travis Knight would end up being the director and Amazon MGM Studios would distribute the reboot.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation sequel

By June 11, 2013, Chu was attached to direct a sequel to G.I. Joe: Retaliation produced by MGM, financed by Skydance Media, and Paramount Pictures will handle film distribution.[6] Snake Eyes would be the third film in the G. I. Joe franchise.

Run

By December 10, 2013, Chu was attached to direct “Run,” a horror film written by Alex Ankeles & Morgan Jurgenson, and Chu will produce the film with Hieu Ho & John Sacchi, and Lionsgate Films will handle film distribution.[7] Lionsgate would produce and release a different movie entitled Run in 2020 without Chu’s involvement.

Can’t Touch This

On November 17, 2014, Chu was attached to direct the 1990s dance film Can’t Touch This, with Annie Mebane and Steve Basilone writing the screenplay based on Chu & Hieu Ho’s original idea, Chu & Ho will produce through Chu Studios, and Focus Features handling film distribution.[8]

The Wangs vs. the World television series adaptation

untitled Arnel Pineda biopic

On December 5, 2018, Chu was set to direct the biopic of Journey singer Arnel Pineda, with Chu producing the film with Marty Bowen through Temple Hill Entertainment for Warner Bros. Pictures, which is negotiating to license the original Journey tunes.[9]

Permanent Record feature film

On December 16, 2019, Chu was in talks to direct the feature film adaptation of Mary H.K. Choi’s novel Permanent Record, with Choi writing the screenplay & executive producing the film with Chu for Warner Bros. Pictures to distribute.[10]

2020s

Triage TV series

On February 27, 2020, Chu was set to direct and executive produce Erica Messer & David Cornue’s medical drama series Triage, with ABC set to broadcast the series,[11] which was likely canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented casting and securing filming locations.

Disney+ Willow TV series

On October 20, 2020, Chu was set to direct and executive produce the Disney+ streaming series sequel to Willow,[12] but Chu did not work around his schedule with Wicked & Wicked: For Good to direct the pilot episode,[13] which Stephen Woolfenden ended up directing.[14]

Lilo & Stitch remake

On November 13, 2020, Chu was in talks to direct the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch (2002) with Rideback set to produce the film to debut on Disney+,[15][16] though Chu would ultimately not direct the film due to other obligations. Dean Fleischer Camp was hired to direct the remake film instead, and it was released to theaters in 2025.[17]

Disney+ Swiss Family Robinson TV series

On December 10, 2020, Chu was set to direct & produce the Disney+ streaming series adaptation of Swiss Family Robinson, with Ronald D. Moore writing Chu’s concept as well as producing the series.[18][19] In 2024, the series didn’t come to fruition before Moore returned to Sony Pictures Television.[20]

The Great Chinese Art Heist

On February 25, 2021, Chu was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Alex W. Palmer’s article The Great Chinese Art Heist, with Chu’s Electric Somewhere producing the film with Lance Johnson, Agnes Chu, Will Welch, & GQ’s Geneva Waserman for Warner Bros. Pictures to distribute,[21] and in August that same year, Jimmy O. Yang, Jessica Gao, and Ken Cheng were hired to write the screenplay.[22]

animated Play-Doh film

On March 17, 2022, Chu was set to direct and produce the animated feature film adaptation of Play-Doh, with Emily V. Gordon writing the screenplay, and Craig Buck, Susan Carlson, Eric Carlson and James Keach will produce the film for Hasbro & eOne.[23]

The Woman in Me film

On August 1, 2024, Chu was set to direct the film adaptation of Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me for Universal, with producer Marc Platt on the project.[24]

References

  1. ↑ McCarter, Jeremy (July 22, 2024). "When You're 23 and Spielberg Calls: The Wild Origin Story of Jon M. Chu". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  2. ↑ Snyder, Gabriel (August 10, 2003). "Col, Red Wagon nesting 'Birdie'". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Halbfinger, David (February 18, 2008). "Director's Reward: A Second First Chance". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ Jones, Michael (December 18, 2008). "Baz Luhrmann eyes 'Great Gatsby'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (July 30, 2012). "Jon M. Chu In 'Masters Of The Universe' Talks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (June 11, 2013). "Jon M. Chu Re-Enlisting To Helm 'G.I. Joe 3'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  7. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (December 10, 2013). "Jon M. Chu Godfathers 'Run,' High Concept Horror For Lionsgate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  8. ↑ Yamato, Jen (November 17, 2014). "Jon M. Chu, Focus Features Step Up To '90s-Set 'Can't Touch This'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (December 5, 2018). "Warner Bros & 'Crazy Rich Asians' Helmer Jon M. Chu To Tell Screen Story Of Journey Singer Arnel Pineda". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  10. ↑ D’Alessandro, Anthony (December 16, 2019). "Jon M. Chu To Produce & In Talks To Direct Feature Take On YA Novel 'Permanent Record' For Warner Bros". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 27, 2020). "ABC Gives Second Cycle Pilot Order To 'Triage' Medical Drama From Erica Messer, David Cornue & Jon M. Chu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  12. ↑ White, Peter (October 20, 2020). "'Willow' Series Gets Greenlight At Disney+ With Jon M. Chu To Direct Pilot". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (December 10, 2020). "Jon M. Chu No Longer Directing 'Willow' Pilot For Disney+ Series: "The Timing Is Just Not Going To Work"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 15, 2021). "'Willow': Stephen Woolfenden Steps In As Pilot Director After Jonathan Entwistle Exits". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (November 13, 2020). "Jon M. Chu to Direct 'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Movie". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 13, 2020). "Jon M. Chu in Talks to Direct Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 14, 2022). "'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Pic At Disney Taps 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On's Dean Fleischer Camp To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ Otterson, Joe (December 10, 2020). "'Swiss Family Robinson' Series From Ronald D. Moore, Jon M. Chu in the Works at Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ White, Peter (December 10, 2020). "'Swiss Family Robinson' TV Remake In The Works At Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  20. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 17, 2024). "Ronald D. Moore Returns To Sony Pictures Television with Overall Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026. "When he moved to 20th Television in 2020, Moore was attracted by the opportunity to work with the Disney cannon. He developed multiple projects, including a Swiss Family Robinson series reboot and The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, set in the Magic Kingdom Universe, for Disney+ as well as A Court of Thorns and Roses adaptation for Hulu, neither of which has come to fruition."
  21. ↑ D’Alessandro, Anthony (February 25, 2021). "'Crazy Rich Asians' Filmmaker Jon M. Chu To Direct 'The Great Chinese Art Heist' For Warner Bros". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  22. ↑ Kit, Borys (August 17, 2021). "Jimmy O. Yang Reteams With Jon M. Chu for Chinese Art Heist Movie at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  23. ↑ D’Alessandro, Anthony (March 17, 2022). "'Play-Doh': Emily V. Gordon To Write, Jon M. Chu Circling To Direct Animated Pic For eOne & Hasbro About Colorful Clay". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  24. ↑ Frank, Matthew (2024-08-01). "Exclusive: Britney Spears' Biopic Lands at Universal in Massive Deal". theankler.com. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
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