Shane Black's unrealized projects

During his extensive career, American filmmaker Shane Black 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.

1980s

Shadow Company

Written in 1984, Shadow Company was Black's first script, and got him his first agent. The project was a supernatural thriller set during the Vietnam War that he once described as a cross between Platoon and The Exorcist. It was subsequently optioned by Universal Pictures and, following the success of Lethal Weapon, John Carpenter and Walter Hill came on as director and executive producer, respectively. A later draft, dated 1988, was co-written with Fred Dekker.[1][2][3]

Sgt. Rock

In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger was attached to play the DC Comics character Sgt. Rock in a film written by Black, directed by John McTiernan, and produced by Joel Silver. Taking inspiration from the war comedy Imitation General, Black's version would have featured an English cook pretending to be a World War II general who is protected by Schwarzenegger's Sgt. Rock, an Austrian whose family were killed by Nazis.[4][5] Following the success of A Fish Called Wanda, star John Cleese was Schwarzenegger and McTiernan's choice to portray the English cook. The actor turned them down and McTiernan blamed this for the project falling apart, as the idea of Cleese and Schwarzenegger together had become so integral to their vision.[4] David Peoples and Steven E. de Souza also worked on the script during the 1980s.[5][6]

1990s

Wild Wild West

Fear Itself TV series

On April 10, 1995, Black was set to write Fear Itself, a horror anthology series about phobias, with Renny Harlin and Michael De Luca producing for HBO to distribute.[7]

2000s

The Tin Man

On June 30, 2000, Black was set to executive produce Anthony Bagarozzi's Los Angeles noir thriller The Tin Man, with Barry Sonnenfeld, Tom Jacobson and Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson, and John Frankenheimer was set to direct,[8] and in September that same year, Charles Mondry was also attached as a writer.[9]

The Nice Guys TV series

On September 23, 2003, Black was set to executive produce and co-write with Anthony Bagarozzi's action buddy cop television series The Nice Guys, with Bagarozzi producing the series with Joel Silver for Warner Bros. Television, Tommy Schlamme was set to direct the pilot episode for CBS,[10] which Black would later turn into a feature film.

Lethal Weapon 5

On August 6, 2008, it was reported that Black had secretly written a spec script for a fifth Lethal Weapon film, and contacted franchise producer Joel Silver to explain that he wanted to continue the story. At this time, it was said that both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover would return to reprise their roles as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, respectively, despite no deals being signed officially.[11] Black later confirmed that he co-wrote a 63-page outline with his partner Chuck Mondry. Their iteration of a fifth installment would have seen Riggs and Murtaugh on one last case, tracking private contractors from Afghanistan who are setting up shop during "the worst blizzard in east coast history." Black estimated the film's budget as $150 million.[12]

Cold Warrior

On September 22, 2008, Black was set to direct ”Cold Warrior,” Chuck Mondry's screenplay about a spy from the Cold War era who comes out of retirement to team with a younger agent from the new school to confront a domestic terrorism threat orchestrated by Russia, with Michelle Manning, David Greenblatt, and Anthony Bagarozzi set to produce the film for Universal Pictures to distribute.[13] Then on January 27, 2010, Mel Gibson was in talks to star in the film.[14] Then on September 5, 2018, Netflix acquired the film from Universal.[15]

2010s

Doc Savage

In 2010, Black was set to direct a feature film adaptation of Doc Savage, with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry cowriting with Black, Neal H. Moritz is producing the project with Ori Marmur through his Original Film banner in collaboration with Michael Uslan, and Columbia Pictures would handle film distribution,[16] and on May 30, 2016, Dwayne Johnson was attached to star in & produce the film through his Seven Bucks Productions.[17]

Death Note

On January 13, 2011, Black was set to direct the American feature film adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's manga Death Note, with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry attached to write the screenplay, Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Doug Davison and Brian Witten will produce the film for Warner Bros. handling film distribution,[18] which was released with Adam Wingard directing for Netflix[19]

The Destroyer

On August 21, 2014, Black was set to direct the feature film adaptation of The Destroyer book series, with Jim Uhls and Jim Mullaney attached to write the screenplay, Charles Roven, Steven Chasman, and Andy Horwitz will produce the film for Sony Pictures Entertainment handling distribution.[20] On December 8, 2022, Sony Pictures Television announced a television series adaptation was in development with Gordon Smith writing and producing the project replacing Black's feature film.[21]

Untitled time travel horror film

On June 9, 2016, Black explained his plan for a horror movie about time-travel.[22]

The Avengers reboot TV series

In January 2018, Black and Fred Dekker were cowriting a reboot of the television series The Avengers for Warner Bros. Television.[23][24] Then on January 18, 2024, StudioCanal was set to develop a reboot without Black, Dekker, and WB Television.[25]

2020s

Crag Banyon P.I. TV series

On December 10, 2020, Black was set to co-write and executive produce Crag Banyon P.I., the animated comedy series adaptation of Jim Mullaney’s Crag Banyon book series with Mullaney also co-writing & executive producing the series, David Silverman set to direct and executive produce the series with Stampede Ventures’ Greg Silverman and Paul Shapiro; Greenlit's David Greenblatt, and Vinson Films’ Tripp Vinson, and Bento Box attached as the animation company for FOX.[26][27]

Bannerman TV series

On January 10, 2023, Black was set to produce Bannerman, the television series adaptation of John Maxim’s Paul Bannerman book series with Greg Nicotero, Brian Witten, & Jeffrey Maxim executive producing the proposed television series adaptation for AMC.[28]

Offers

The Green Hornet

On January 18, 2011, Evan Goldberg revealed that Black was considered to direct the feature film adaptation of The Green Hornet, before Michel Gondry was attached to direct.[29]

Gambit

On November 12, 2015, Black was offered to direct the X-Men spinoff film Gambit after Rupert Wyatt dropped out, but Doug Liman was hired instead.[30]

Hobbs & Shaw

On October 5, 2017, Black was offered to direct the Fast & Furious spinoff film Hobbs & Shaw,[31] before David Leitch was attached to direct.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Black, Shane; Dekker, Fred (September 3, 2016) [October 20, 1988]. "SHADOW COMPANY (unprod.) 1988.10.20 Draft By Shane Black & Fred Dekker". Internet Archive.
  2. ↑ James Greenberg. "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Millionaire". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ Michael Gingold (September 13, 2018). "SHADOW COMPANY: An Early, Unproduced Black And Dekker Special". birthmoviesdeath. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Bumbray, Chris (May 16, 2024). "Sgt Rock: Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McTiernan's movie was sunk by John Cleese?". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Cecchini, Mike (December 20, 2013). "Steven E. de Souza Talks Commando 2, Sgt. Rock, the Flash Gordon Movie You May Never See, and Much More!". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ Boucher, Geoff (February 1, 2010). "'Sgt. Rock' reloads as movie project – but not as a WWII story". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Variety Staff (April 10, 1995). "Top helmers on 'Tales' team… Sky-high Sly price". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025. "Anthologies are fast becoming a TV staple again. "Tales From the Crypt" is in its sixth season, with exec producers Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis, David Giler, Walter Hill and Richard Donner, and HBO is developing "Fear Itself," a series about phobias by "Cliffhanger" director Renny Harlin, "Lethal Weapon" writer Shane Black and Michael De Luca, part-time screenwriter and full-time president of production at New Line."
  8. ↑ Fleming Jr., Michael (June 30, 2000). "Next stop for Barrys is splitsville". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025. "Among those is "Tin Man," an L.A. noir detective tale which Anthony Bagarozzi is writing and John Frankenheimer has agreed to direct, with Sonnenfeld and Josephson producing with Shane Black;"
  9. ↑ Brodesser-Aker, Claude (September 25, 2000). "Time for 'Tick-Tock'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025. "Bagarozzi most recently penned "The Tin Man," an L.A. noir detective tale that John Frankenheimer has agreed to direct; Barry Sonnenfeld and Barry Josephson will produce with Shane Black. Mondry is also scribe."
  10. ↑ Michael Sneider; Josef Adalian (September 23, 2003). "Eye 'Guys' flies for Silver & Black". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gibson and Glover Up for Lethal Weapon 5?". ComingSoon.net. August 6, 2008. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  12. ↑ Walkuski, Eric (May 17, 2017). "Shane Black on The Nice Guys, buddy comedies, Lethal Weapon, Predator & more". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  13. ↑ Graser, Marc (September 22, 2008). "Shane Black to direct 'Cold Warrior'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  14. ↑ Tatiana Siegel; Dave McNary (January 27, 2010). "Gibson in talks for 'Cold Warrior'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (September 5, 2018). "Shane Black's Cold Warrior Heads to Netflix from Universal". Collider. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ The Deadline Staff (May 7, 2013). "Is Sony's 'Doc Savage' Next For 'Iron Man 3' Helmer Shane Black?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (May 30, 2016). "Dwayne Johnson To Play 'Doc Savage' For Director Shane Black". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  18. ↑ Fleming Jr., Michael (January 13, 2011). "Warner Bros Taps Shane Black For Japanese Manga 'Death Note'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  19. ↑ Kroll, Justin (April 6, 2016). "Netflix Lands Adam Wingard's 'Death Note' Starring Nat Wolff". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  20. ↑ Fleming Jr., Michael (August 21, 2014). "Sony Pictures Taps 'Iron Man 3' Helmer Shane Black To Direct 'The Destroyer'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ Kit, Borys (December 8, 2022). "Remo Williams Series in the Works From Sony Pictures Television". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (June 9, 2016). "Shane Black Reveals The Hero Of 'Predator' & It's Not Arnold Schwarzenegger, Talks Time Travel Horror Script And More". The Playlist. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  23. ↑ Cotter, Padraig (January 11, 2018). "Shane Black Has Written 1960s Avengers TV Show Reboot". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  24. ↑ Evry, Max (January 12, 2018). "Shane Black Writing a Pilot Based on The Avengers TV Show". ComingSoon. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  25. ↑ Kanter, Jake (January 18, 2024). "'The Avengers' Reboot In Works At StudioCanal, Wall To Wall; 'Industry' Duo Mickey Down & Konrad Kay Writing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  26. ↑ Otterson, Joe (December 10, 2020). "Shane Black, James Mullaney Team to Develop Animated Comedy 'Crag Banyon P.I.' at Fox". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  27. ↑ White, Peter (December 10, 2020). "Shane Black Developing Animated Comedy For Fox Based On Crag Banyon Mysteries". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 10, 2023). "'Bannerman' Spy Books In Works For Television At AMC Networks From Shane Black, Greg Nicotero & Brian Witten". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ The Playlist Staff (January 18, 2011). "Evan Goldberg Says Shane Black Was Once In Line To Direct 'The Green Hornet'". The Playlist. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  30. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 12, 2015). "Doug Liman Near Deal to Direct Channing Tatum's 'Gambit'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  31. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 5, 2017). "Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham's 'Fast and Furious' Spinoff Gets 2019 Release Date". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Please welcome David Leitch as the director of the Fast & Furious Hobbs and Shaw spinoff". Twitter. April 12, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2025.

Shane Black at IMDb

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