John McTiernan's unrealized projects

The following is a list of unproduced John McTiernan projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director John McTiernan has worked on a number of 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.

The Quest of St. James Elk
In 1981, McTiernan wrote the original screenplay for a planned film called The Quest of St. James Elk, which was to have been produced by Elliott Kastner through Winkast Film Productions, based at Pinewood Studios. However, the film was pulled from production just before the start. McTiernan's concept art and storyboards from the unproduced film were later salvaged and auctioned.

Cortes
In 1988, McTiernan was approached to direct Cortes, a historical epic about Hernán Cortés from a Nicholas Kazan screenplay and with Edward R. Pressman producing, but Kazan and Pressman could not get the film funded.

Sgt. Rock
Shortly after they did Predator together, McTiernan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and writer Shane Black were all set to team on a big-budget film adaptation of the DC Comics character Sgt. Rock. According to McTiernan in the book The Last Action Heroes by Nick de Semlyan, the project was heavily developed in 1988 and 1989 only to be demolished by actor John Cleese, who would have starred opposite Schwarzenegger. As McTiernan explained, everyone was so attached to the idea of Cleese co-starring with Schwarzenegger that when Cleese declined, the project fell apart. "As far as he was concerned, we were just a couple thug American action-movie makers," McTiernan said. "If he'd seen Die Hard, I think he probably would have signed up. But he judged us on our reputation." McTiernan would go on to make The Hunt for Red October instead.

The Adventures of Robin Hood
As early as 1989, McTiernan had been attached to direct 20th Century Fox's The Adventures of Robin Hood, titled after the 1938 film, which was planned to be made after he finished Road Show. At the same time, two other competing Robin Hood projects were in development at Morgan Creek Entertainment and Tri-Star Pictures. All three intended to portray how Robin Hood became an outlaw hiding out in the Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. The central character of McTiernan's version was named Sir Robert Hode, a young Saxon noble more interested in wine and women, until the threat of a lashing by the Norman authorities sends him racing to the woods. The script was written by Mark Allen Smith. Fox hoped that Mel Gibson would agree to star in the film, though he turned it down over concerns of doing several "period pieces" in a row. In 1990, a race between the three projects ensued, with Tri-Star announcing a September 3 start date and Fox planning for an October 22 start. Plans, however, began to fall apart by late July when Kevin Costner signed on to star in Morgan Creek's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. According to director Kevin Reynolds, Costner had originally been offered to star in McTiernan's version but the producers at Morgan Creek offered him more money, so he joined their production instead. Though his was not made, McTiernan participated as executive producer in a low-budget, made-for-television version of Robin Hood which utilized Mark Allan Smith's story treatment.

Road Show
In April 1990, McTiernan was set to direct Road Show for 20th Century Fox, with Sean Connery and Cher set to possibly star. The film, a romantic action-adventure based on The Last Cattle Drive by Robert Day, was to have been produced by McTiernan along with his then-wife Donna Dubrow, who described it as "The African Queen on the range". Robert Getchell's adapted script had spent over a decade in development, with directors Martin Ritt and Richard Brooks both attached to helm at separate stages, prior to McTiernan's involvement. Filming was expected to officially begin that summer in Montana and Wyoming.

A Princess of Mars
In 1990, McTiernan become attached to direct a film based on the science fantasy novel A Princess of Mars. He hired screenwriter Bob Gale, whose take on the material offered more humor and incorporated elements from several earlier drafts written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. McTiernan also hired illustrator and concept artist William Stout, who would design several elaborate costumes for animals to wear. Stout later recalled of his experience working on the film:

"'Two days into that job had me in the middle of a huge depression. They were going to use camels and elephants in creature suits... There was no way that you could get any of this stuff to look like the [author Edgar Rice] Burroughs stuff.'"

By 1992, McTiernan had attached Sam Resnick, whom he had worked with previously on the television film Robin Hood, to rewrite. Around this time, Tom Cruise also became loosely attached to the project as John Carter, with Julia Roberts approached to play the Princess of Mars, Dejah Thoris. As development continued, McTiernan became increasingly dissatisfied with the limitations of the technology at the time, convinced that CGI was the only way to go. Ultimately, he left the project to direct Last Action Hero, but nevertheless was still paid for his work.

73 Easting
In 1992, Tom Clancy was in negotiations with Universal Pictures to write his first screenplay for McTiernan to direct based on the experiences of three military captains who led an assault on Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard. The film was given the tentative title of 73 Easting and would have been made with the cooperation of the U.S. Army. The rights to the stories of the three soldiers were secured by Vecchio Productions, who was set to co-produce with McTiernan's own Tongue River Productions.

Bitterroot
In April 1993, Paramount Pictures was developing Bitterroot, to have been directed by McTiernan and star Brad Pitt, who would eventually drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Offers had also gone out to Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise and Richard Gere, all of whom declined. Later that month, the film was put into pre-production turnaround, allowing McTiernan and producer Donna Dubrow to set it up at a rival studio following Paramount's concerns over the casting and the projected $50 million budget. According to Dubrow, the studio "seemed to feel that Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman weren't enough to proceed." Bitterroot was written by David Shaber and was to have told the story of the 1877 Indian War.

Captain Blood remake
McTiernan was set to direct a remake of the 1935 film Captain Blood for Warner Bros., though he dropped out in December 1993 over creative differences. The script was written by Jonathan Hensleigh and McTiernan wanted Alec Baldwin to play the title role.

Master and Commander
In the mid-to-late 1990s, McTiernan was going to direct an adaptation of Master and Commander, the first in the Aubrey–Maturin novel series from Patrick O'Brian, which was developed for Touchstone Pictures. However, Touchstone pulled the project from development, allowing the screen rights to be purchased by Fox where the 2003 film was eventually made, directed by Peter Weir.

Nimitz Class
In early 1997, McTiernan optioned the rights to the techno-thriller Nimitz Class for Universal soon after the novel's publication. McTiernan intended to direct the film through his then-wife/producer Donna DuBrow, who refused to allow it to be made following their separation.

Airframe
In June 1997, it was reported that McTiernan would direct film adaptations of the Michael Crichton novels Airframe and Eaters of the Dead for Touchstone Pictures. In May 1998, after finishing production on Eaters of the Dead (later retitled to The 13th Warrior), McTiernan left Airframe to direct the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair for United Artists.

Quiller
In 1999, McTiernan was in talks to direct the film adaptation of Elleston Trevor's Quiller book series through United Artists.

The Extractors
In 2000, after finishing Rollerball for MGM, McTiernan was in discussions with the studio to direct The Extractors for a possible production start in March of the following year. The screenplay by Kevin Fox and James DeMonaco was described by The Hollywood Reporter as an action-thriller "about a group of ex-cons who break prisoners out of jail for a price." Samuel L. Jackson was being considered to star in the project.

Smoke and Mirrors
In February 2001, McTiernan was the front-runner to direct the long-in-development film Smoke and Mirrors, for Initial Entertainment Group. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were attached to star. The project was based loosely on an actual 1856 event where the French government sent magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin to quell an uprising in Algeria begun by an alleged sorcerer. The original script was written by Lee and Janet Batchler six years prior, with subsequent revisions done by Ted Henning. In May, it was reported that a mid-fall start date was being eyed, and that a rewrite of the script was being done by Leslie Dixon. In June, McTiernan left the project, citing "insurmountable business differences", and the production was later shelved indefinitely due to escalating costs.

The Garbo Deception
In January 2002, it was reported that McTiernan would direct a World War II film starring Kevin Spacey, John Travolta and Gérard Depardieu entitled The Garbo Deception. Emmanuelle Béart and Sigourney Weaver were also reported to star. The film was based on the life of Juan "Garbo" Pujol, who fooled the Nazis by creating a fictitious spy network.

The Booster
In August 2002, McTiernan was in talks to direct the film adaptation of the late Eugene Izzi's novel The Booster with Sheldon Turner writing the script for Intermedia Films and Mark Johnson's production company.

Murder In Canton
In 2003, McTiernan was attached to direct the $45 million action-adventure Murder In Canton, adapted from the Judge Dee mystery novel of the same name, which was being produced with financial backing from TF1. Production was scheduled to start by the end of the year in New Zealand and China.

Crash Bandits
In 2005, McTiernan had been preparing to direct the action adventure script Crash Bandits through Bauer-Martinez Studios, with Hayden Christensen set to star. Production was initially set to commence on February 15 in Thailand, though this would be delayed. McTiernan described the project as "A delightful story about two guys who make money by finding old crashed World War II planes in various end-of-the-way places." He was still attached to film Crash Bandits prior to serving time in prison, but as of April 2013, he was no longer involved.

Deadly Exchange
In 2006, McTiernan was set to direct the action thriller Deadly Exchange from Ronald Shusett and Ian Rabin's screenplay and Anthony J. Ridio and Ellen Wander producing through Film Bridge Intl. In 2013, McTiernan dropped out following his jail sentence.

Run
In 2007, McTiernan was set to direct the action thriller Run with Michael Pierce and Mark Williams producing and Karl Urban attached to star. The following year, Thomas Jane took over Urban's role. McTiernan was forced to abandon this project as well, following his jail sentence.

Shrapnel
In 2010, McTiernan was set to direct Evan Daugherty's 2008 Black List action thriller script Shrapnel, through Corsan and FilmEngine. In 2011, McTiernan was replaced by Mark Steven Johnson, and the film became Killing Season.

Red Squad
In February 2014, McTiernan was set to direct Cam Cannon and Jorge Suarez's script Red Squad, with Cannon producing the film with Hannibal Films chairman/CEO Richard Rionda Del Castro, Michael Mendelsohn, Patricia Eberle, Hayley Arabia, and Michael Tadross. In August of that year, the film became liquidized during McTiernan's bankruptcy case. In 2017, McTiernan was replaced by director Alexander Witt.

Thomas Crown and the Missing Lioness
In April 2014, McTiernan revealed he had written a sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair while serving his prison sentence, entitled Thomas Crown and the Missing Lioness, set in Europe.

Warbirds
In August 2014, McTiernan was set to direct the military drama Warbirds, with John Travolta set to star in the film for Hannibal Films, which became liquidized during McTiernan's bankruptcy case.

Thin Rain
In January 2016, McTiernan was set to direct Philip Shaw and Jeremy Sheldon's script Thin Rain, with Joe Simpson producing for Miscellaneous Entertainment, along with Green Light International's Andrew Mann and Simon Fawcett.

Untitled Doolittle Raid film
In November 2016, McTiernan revealed in China that he intended to make a World War II feature set there about the aftermath of the Doolittle bombing raid on Tokyo in 1942. André Morgan would have produced the film through Ruddy Morgan Organization. Shooting was expected to start in 2017.

Tau Ceti 4
In 2019, it was reported that McTiernan's Tau Ceti 4 would be pitched to buyers at that year's Cannes Film Festival. Uma Thurman and Travis Fimmel signed on to star in the sci-fi/action film, which McTiernan would have directed from his own original screenplay.

Offers
Throughout his career, McTiernan has turned down various directing offers because he "didn't want to make the same movie again." Among the films he's turned down include Speed, Batman Forever, Mission: Impossible and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.