Paul Verhoeven's unrealized projects

The following is a list of unproduced Paul Verhoeven projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, Dutch film director Paul Verhoeven has worked on many projects that never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell, were officially cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

Return of the Jedi
After Steven Spielberg turned down the directors position on Return of the Jedi, he recommended Verhoeven for the job. George Lucas quickly decided against it after seeing the graphic content in Verhoeven's Spetters. "I suppose he was scared," Verhoeven would later comment, "that the Jedi would immediately start fucking each other."

Death Comes as the End
In 1984, following the release of The Fourth Man, Verhoeven announced that he planned to film Agatha Christie's historical mystery novel Death Comes as the End as his next project.

Rescue
In 1989, Jeffrey Lurie announced he would be producing Rescue, a political action-thriller about the South African secret police. Verhoeven would have directed the project via Lurie's Chestnut Hill Productions.

Women
In the early 1990s, Verhoeven was lined up to direct a screen version of Charles Bukowski's Women, a fictionalized account of the author's experiences with sex and romance.

Mistress of the Seas
Verhoeven was attached to direct the film adaptation of John Carlova's book Mistress of the Seas for Columbia Pictures, with Geena Davis attached to star and a planned production start between November 1993 and January 1994. However, on July 13, 1993 it was announced that Verhoeven would no longer direct the film due to creative differences, Davis would end up making Cutthroat Island instead.

Crusade
In 1993, Verhoeven began pre-production on the historical epic Crusade for Carolco, with Arnold Schwarzenegger set to star and John Turturro, Robert Duvall and Jennifer Connelly in talks to join the project. Carolco ultimately shelved the project owing to its projected $100 million budget, and Verhoeven eventually moved on to other projects.

Houdini
On July 10, 1997, Verhoeven was in negotiations to direct a film about the mysterious life of Harry Houdini with Tom Cruise to star in the movie for Columbia Pictures, but the film didn't materialize with him nor with Francis Lawrence in the 2010s.

Official Assassins
On August 5, 1998, Verhoeven struck a deal to develop and direct Official Assassins for Phoenix Pictures and Kingsgate Films. Set in post-World War II Berlin, the project was loosely based on Capt. Peter Mason's non-fiction account of the same title about his intelligence activities for the British government. Chris Bertolini was scripting the film. On June 14, 2002, Verhoeven confirmed that Official Assassins had been cancelled indefinitely, "It's very critical of the U.S. government and I had to stop casting because nobody wanted to do it."

With Wings as Eagles
On February 10, 2000, it was rumored that Verhoeven would re-team with star collaborator Arnold Schwarzenegger on a World War II film titled With Wings as Eagles.

Rasputin
On May 29, 2000, it was reported that Verhoeven would direct Rasputin, written by Roselyne Bosch based on the life of Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. Budgeted at $50 million, the film was to have been produced through Légende Entreprises.

Other Powers
On August 14, 2000, it was reported that Verhoeven was pursuing the biopic Other Powers as his next project, based on Barbara Goldsmith's 1998 biography about early suffragette leader Victoria Woodhull. Tom Cruise was attached to produce, with Nicole Kidman in mind for the role. On June 14, 2002, Verhoeven stated, "The Woodhull project is written, but I've not been able to find financing – I'm waiting to hear from Nicole."

The Source
On May 12, 2001, it was reported that Verhoeven would return to Europe to make The Source, a film based on Guy de Maupassant's Mont-Oriol, set in 1882. Adapted by Julie Talen, Gerard Soeteman, and Verhoeven himself, the project was scheduled to begin production the following year in spring, with a budget of $30 million.

Batavia's Graveyard
On April 11, 2002, it was reported that Verhoeven was to direct the epic film Batavia's Graveyard, about the aftermath of the shipwreck the Dutch East India Company's flagship. Gerard Soeteman, a screenwriter who worked with Verhoeven previously, was set to write the screenplay adaptation of the historical novel on which the film would have been based. Verhoeven described Mike Dash's book as "an adult Lord of the Flies," he added, "This is a fantastic story, because it gives us an ultra-villain, let's say a proto-Hitler." As of 2003, Verhoeven was in preproduction on the film through the British Film4 company and was then attempting to secure the use of a lifesize replica of the actual Batavia ship. Then, in 2005, it was reported that the Dutch Film Fund would be investing in the development of the project, which had since stalled when financing fell through. At the time of the announcement, Soeteman was midway through writing the screenplay.

Solace
On April 3, 2003, Verhoeven was in negotiations with New Line Cinema to direct the thriller Solace. Written by Ted Griffin and Sean Bailey, Solace centers on a psychic detective tracking a killer who leaves behind no clues while terrorizing New York. Prior to Verhoeven's involvement, Nick Cassavetes and Miguel Sapochnik had been attached to direct. The film was ultimately released in 2015, directed by Afonso Poyart.

Untitled Jan Montyn biopic
On April 23, 2003, Verhoeven was planning to shoot a biopic on the Dutch artist Jan Montyn, which would have been based on the novel Montyn, written in 1982 by Dirk Ayelt Kooiman. The script was being written by Edwin de Vries, and was to have been produced by Volkert Struycken and Errol Nayci.

The Paperboy
On October 10, 2003, Verhoeven revealed in an interview that he had written an English language script with Jan de Bont called Paperboy, and that filming was expected to start before the end of the year. The script was based on the novel The Paperboy by Pete Dexter, and was later officially reported in 2007 to be going into production in Florida and Louisiana, with Verhoeven directing and de Bont producing. The film was budgeted at $27 million. A film of the novel was later made, but directed by Lee Daniels.

Beast of Bataan
On May 5, 2005, Verhoeven was set to direct Beast of Bataan, a feature adaptation based on A Trial of Generals by author Lawrence Taylor. According to Variety, the film "follows the war crimes trial of Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma at the end of WWII." Screenwriter Mark Jean wrote the adaptation, and although no cast members were announced to be attached at the time, Verhoeven planned to go into production that winter. Verhoeven was later replaced by director Fred Schepisi due to scheduling conflicts and his commitment to Black Book.

The Winter Queen
On May 12, 2005, Verhoeven was interested in directing and producing the film adaptation of Boris Akunin's novel The Winter Queen with Thomas Hedman and Alan Marshall producing the film through Seven Arts Entertainment and Future Film, but on November 9, 2009, Verhoeven was replaced as the director by Fyodor Bondarchuk.

Kneeling on a Flowerbed of Violets
On May 12, 2006, a Dutch-language adaptation of Jan Siebelink's biography Knielen op een bed violen was reported to be in development, with Verhoeven directing and co-writing the script with Gerard Soeteman. Budgeted at $12.9 million, the project was scheduled for shooting the following year in the Netherlands.

The Thomas Crown Affair sequel
On November 12, 2007, Verhoeven was interested in directing the sequel to John McTiernan's The Thomas Crown Affair remake, with Pierce Brosnan starring and producing with Beau St. Clair and Dino Conte for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but on April 15, 2010, Verhoeven left the project.

The Forgotten Soldier
On July 21, 2008, Screen Daily reported that Verhoeven had become attached to direct the World War II film The Forgotten Soldier, based on the memoir by Guy Sajer. Michael Frost Beckner wrote the screenplay for the project and would have produced alongside John Beckner and Verhoeven. The producers planned to shoot in 2009 on location in eastern Europe.

Untitled erotic thriller film
On September 9, 2008, Verhoeven was in talks to direct an untitled film written by Wendy Miller about an affair between a college intern and the boss's wife. Relativity Media picked up the script earlier in May of that year, with an early 2009 start date eyed for production.

The Surrogate
On May 28, 2009, Verhoeven was set to direct the film adaptation of Kathy Mackel's The Surrogate, with Halle Berry attached to star for 20th Century Fox, which Verhoeven said in 2010 that the film is in development, but its fate is unknown after Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox was completed or the rights lapsed back to Mackel.

The Last Express
On April 13, 2010, Verhoeven was interested in directing the film adaptation of Jordan Mechner's video game The Last Express with Mechner writing the script.

The Hidden Force
On August 24, 2010, Verhoeven was set to direct the biographical film adaptation of Louis Couperus' novel The Hidden Force with San Fu Maltha attached to produce the film and Gerard Soeteman writing the screenplay.

Eternal
On October 14, 2010, it was announced that Verhoeven would direct the supernatural thriller Eternal, written by David Loughery, for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, however this attempt fell through.

Jesus of Nazareth film
In April 2011, it was reported that Verhoeven was seeking financial backers for a film adaptation of his 2007 book Jesus of Nazareth, which he co-wrote with Rob Van Scheers. In June 2012, it was announced that Chris Hanley would produce the film and that Roger Avary would write the screenplay.

Rogue
In November 2012, Verhoeven mentioned that he was developing a film for Bill Mechanic called Rogue set against the backdrop of the Mexican drug cartels. "It's pretty tough," said Verhoeven, "A real film noir. Where you know that the guy is going to die, like Double Indemnity or Sunset Boulevard. That's what I liked about it."

Lyon 1943
In May 2016, it was reported that Verhoeven was planning a second film on the subject of the World War French resistance, titled Lyon 1943, which would have been set over a period of several months during 1943 and feature Klaus Barbie and Jean Moulin as main characters. Saïd Ben Saïd was to be producer and David Birke the writer.

Bel Ami TV miniseries
On May 11, 2020, Verhoeven was reported to be directing an 8-episode, French-language miniseries based on the Guy de Maupassant novel Bel-Ami (1885), which was set to be adapted by Gerard Soeteman.

Young Sinner
In December 2021, Verhoeven and screenwriter Edward Neumeier told MovieMaker magazine that they were writing a new political thriller titled Young Sinner, set in Washington, D.C.

Sans Compter
In August 2023, it was confirmed by producer Saïd Ben Saïd that Verhoeven's next directing project would be an adaptation of Philippe Djian's novel Sans Compter.

Cortes
In the late 1980s, Verhoeven was offered to direct Cortes, a historical epic about Hernan Cortes from a Nicholas Kazan screenplay and with Edward R. Pressman producing.

True Lies
On October 19, 2009, Verhoeven was reported to replace James Cameron as the director of True Lies because of Cameron's conflicts with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Basic Instinct 2
On July 25, 2005, Verhoeven turned down directing duties for the sequel to his film Basic Instinct.