Ron Howard's unrealized projects

The following is a list of unproduced Ron Howard projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director Ron Howard 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 cancelled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

Rainbow Warrior
In the early 1980s, Howard planned to make a film surrounding the events of Greenpeace and their ship the Rainbow Warrior. "That ship had been impounded and captured by Spain, and I wanted to do a movie about that, and their escape," Howard later said. "I couldn't get it off the ground." He later fulfilled his ambitions to make a movie set in the ocean with 2015's In the Heart of the Sea.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Howard was offered the opportunity to direct Superman IV: The Quest for Peace by Christopher Reeve, but The Cannon Group, Inc. hired Sidney J. Furie to direct instead.

Into Thin Air
In 1995, after Apollo 13, Howard was said to be interested in directing two thrillers as his next films; Ransom, and an unrealized project called Into Thin Air, scripted by Henry Bean.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
In the 1990s, Howard was one of three directors, including Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, in talks with George Lucas to direct Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which Howard revealed on a 2015 episode of the Happy, Sad Confused podcast, stating that he found the offer too daunting. Lucas eventually ended up directing the film.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
In 1997, it was reported that New Line Cinema was in talks with Howard to direct a new adaptation of James Thurber's short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", with Jim Carrey attached to star in the lead role.

The Sea Wolf
In 1998, Howard was attached to direct a film version of Jack London's The Sea Wolf for Columbia Pictures, with Nicolas Cage in the starring role. The project was abandoned as Howard felt it was "too expensive and the cast didn't come together in a way that I felt was right for the movie." The following year, John Boorman signed on to direct the adaptation.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Howard was one of several directors approached to do Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the late 1990s, but he rejected the offer as he had just completed production on How the Grinch Stole Christmas and did not want to do another fantasy film.

Some Like It Hot remake
In the early 2000s, Howard had been set to direct a remake of Billy Wilder's classic comedy Some Like It Hot with Scarlett Johansson, Ashton Kutcher, and Shia LaBeouf in Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon's roles, respectively.

The Serpent and the Eagle
In 2002, Howard was set to produce and possibly direct Hans Beimler and Robert Wolfe's historical drama The Serpent and the Eagle about the relationship between Hernán Cortés and El Malinchi, for Universal Pictures.

Last Man Home
In March 2006, Howard was set to direct Jamie Moss' first Gulf War spec script Last Man Home, about a soldier on a covert mission to find his AWOL brother, with Brian Grazer set to produce and Universal Pictures set to distribute the film.

The Look of Real
In April 2006, Howard became attached to direct The Look of Real, an ensemble film written by Winnie Holzman about a group of young women in the garment industry. He reportedly wanted to cast his daughter Bryce in an unspecified role. Brian Grazer was set to produce the film through Imagine Entertainment, with Universal Pictures distributing.

Caché remake
In February 2007, Howard was set to direct and produce the American remake of Michael Haneke's psychological thriller Caché with Plum Pictures attached to produce and Universal Pictures to distribute.

The Emperor's Children
In July 2007, Howard was set to direct and produce the film adaptation of Claire Messud's novel The Emperor's Children with Noah Baumbach writing the script and Universal Pictures set to distribute the film. But in 2010, with Howard opting instead to direct The Dilemma, Baumbach replaced him as director, with Eric Bana, Keira Knightley and Richard Gere attached to star. This production failed to materialize, and in 2014, Lake Bell became attached to direct, replacing Baumbach.

The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft
In March 2009, Howard was set to produce and possibly direct the film adaptation of Mac Carter and Jeff Blitz's graphic novel The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft with Carter writing the script and Universal Pictures set to distribute.

My Stroke of Insight
In October 2010, Howard was set to direct and produce the film adaptation of neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor's memoir My Stroke of Insight for Sony Pictures, with Semi Chellas writing the script. Howard was reported as wanting Jodie Foster to star in the film.

Amnesty
In April 2011, it was reported that Howard was set to produce and direct Max Landis' fantasy spy pitch Amnesty for Universal Pictures.

Spy vs. Spy
In June 2011, Howard was set to direct the film adaptation of the comic strip Spy vs. Spy with David Koepp writing the script. By 2020, Rawson Marshall Thurber took over as both director and writer, with Howard attached as a producer only.

Under the Banner of Heaven
In July 2011, it was reported that Howard was set to direct a film adaptation of Jon Krakauer's 2003 novel Under the Banner of Heaven for Warner Bros., which eventually became the Hulu miniseries of the same name, for which Howard served as an executive producer.

364
In September 2011, it was reported that Howard was set to produce and direct David Guggenheim's superhero drama script 364 about a guy with superpowers one day every year for Universal Pictures.

The Imitation Game
In October 2011, it was reported that Howard was interested in directing Graham Moore's script The Imitation Game, with Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to star as Alan Turing. Morten Tyldum would end up directing the film with Benedict Cumberbatch portraying Turing instead.

Doc Holiday TV pilot
In November 2011, it was reported that Howard was set to direct the pilot episode of Akiva Goldsman's biographical Western series based on Mary Doria Russell's novel Doc, written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage for HBO.

Conquest TV series
In July 2012, it was reported that Howard was set to direct and produce through Imagine Entertainment José Rivera's historical Aztec series Conquest for Showtime.

All I've Got
On January 17, 2013, Howard was set to direct the film All I've Got, after J. J. Abrams left to write and direct Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. In 2016, the film was retitled Kolma, with Marielle Heller taking over directing duties from Howard and Daisy Ridley attached to star.

The Graveyard Book
On January 22, 2013, Howard was set to direct the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel The Graveyard Book for Walt Disney Pictures. In 2022, Marc Forster signed on to direct the adaptation.

Mena
On February 8, 2014, it was reported that Howard was set to direct Gary Spinelli's script Mena about drug trafficker Barry Seal for Universal Pictures, which eventually became the Doug Liman film American Made, starring Tom Cruise.

The Jungle Book
On February 14, 2014, it was reported that Howard was set to direct an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's 1894 classic The Jungle Book for Warner Bros., which eventually became the Andy Serkis film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
In April 2014, it was reported that Howard was set to direct a film adaptation of Joël Dicker's 2014 novel The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair for Warner Bros. The novel was instead adapted into a miniseries through Epix.

The Girl Before
In 2015, it was reported that Howard was attached to direct the film adaptation of J. P. Delaney's novel The Girl Before and produce through Imagine Entertainment. The novel was instead adapted for television, without the involvement of Howard.

Pinocchio
In February 2016, it was reported that Howard was possibly going to direct an adaptation of Pinocchio with Robert Downey Jr. set to produce and portray Geppetto.

Zelda
In October 2016, it was reported that Howard was possibly going to direct Emma Frost's script Zelda about the socialite Zelda Fitzgerald with Jennifer Lawrence set to produce and portray Zelda.

The Warehouse
In April 2018, it was reported that Imagine Entertainment had won the film rights to the Rob Hart novel The Warehouse, with plans to develop the project for Howard to direct.

Canary
In June 2018, it was announced that Imagine Entertainment had acquired the rights to produce screenwriter Zach Dean's pitch Canary, a female-led science fiction story, with the intention of developing the project as a directing vehicle for Howard.

The Shrinking of Treehorn
In 2019, Howard was announced as director of his first animated film The Shrinking of Treehorn, based on the children's book by Florence Parry Heide. Paramount Pictures was to release the film, planned to be the first in a series of live action/animated productions through Imagine Entertainment.

The Fixer
In January 2020, Howard was set to direct and produce The Fixer, a political thriller about a failed assassination attempt on Fidel Castro for Paramount Pictures.

Untitled Lang Lang biopic
In September 2020, Howard was announced to direct a film biopic of Chinese pianist Lang Lang, written by Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney based on his memoir Journey of a Thousand Miles. Howard planned for it to be his next film after Thirteen Lives.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
In 1998, Howard and Brian Grazer were reportedly attached to produce a film adaptation of the Dr. Seuss children's book Oh, the Places You'll Go!, but were focused on adapting How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at the time.

The Church of Reggie TV pilot
In 2007, Howard was set to produce Chuck Tatham's religious comedy The Church of Reggie with Brian Grazer and David Nevins through Imagine Entertainment for Fox.

Tiger & Bunny
In 2015, Howard and Brian Grazer signed on to co-produce a live action film adaptation of the anime Tiger & Bunny through Imagine Entertainment, as a co-production with All Nippon Entertainment Works and Bandai Namco Pictures. In 2022, Bandai Namco announced that a TV series would be made without the participation of Imagine Entertainment.

Be More Chill
In 2018, it was reported that Howard's Imagine Entertainment was in the running to acquire the film rights to Joe Iconis' musical adaptation of the novel Be More Chill, but Shawn Levy and Greg Berlanti acquired the project instead.