Clive Barker's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Clive Barker projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, British artist Clive Barker 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.
1990s
[edit]The Mummy remake
[edit]In the early 1990’s, it was announced that Barker would write and direct a remake of The Mummy for Universal Pictures with Mick Garris set co-write the remake with Barker, but that iteration was canceled and eventually became the 1999 film with Brendan Fraser.[1]
The Thief of Always film
[edit]On February 13, 1994, Paramount Pictures and The Kennedy/Marshall Company were set to produce an animated film adaptation of Barker's The Thief of Always in a collaboration with Nelvana Communications.[2] On March 26, 1997, Universal Pictures was set to produce a live-action film adaptation with Bernard Rose attached to write and direct the movie adaptation.[3] In the 2000's, Universal Pictures was set to produce a CGI-animated film adaptation.[4] But on February 7, 2006, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights and Kelly Asbury was hired to write and direct the live-action film adaptation with Barker producing through his Seraphim Films,[5] until Barker confirmed that Oliver Parker would direct a live-action feature film adaptation with David Barron producing without a major studio.[6]
2000s
[edit]The Books of Abarat film
[edit]On April 15, 2000, The Walt Disney Company acquired the rights to adapt Barker's The Books of Abarat,[7][8] but in 2006, Barker revealed that the film adaptation failed at Disney.[9]
The Damnation Game film
[edit]Myths Over Miami film
[edit]The rights to the 1997 article Myths Over Miami, written by Lynda Edwards, were bought by Disney in 2000. Clive Barker was the producer and the one behind the deal.[10]
Ectokid
[edit]Halloween vs. Hellraiser film
[edit]In 2002, Doug Bradley revealed on a Your Move Magazine interview that Barker would write the screenplay for Halloween vs. Hellraiser, with John Carpenter set to direct, but producer Moustapha Akkad vehemently opposed to the idea.[11][12][13]
Demonik video game/film
[edit]On May 19, 2005, it was announced that Barker would write the video game Demonik, a horror-action video game for Majesco Entertainment and Terminal Reality, as well as write and direct the feature film adaptation.[14] But the game was rejected by Majesco.[15] On April 24, 2013, the trailer to the video game was uploaded onto the YouTube channel Player’s Mind and on GameSpot in 2019.[16][17]
Edgar Allan Poe ghost YA film
[edit]On November 30, 2006, it was announced that Barker would write a YA movie centered around the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, and produce it along with Seraphim Films Anthony DiBlasi and Joseph Daley and Walden Media.[18]
Born
[edit]In 2007, it was announced that Barker would be an executive producer of Born, a live action and stop-motion film with Daniel Simpson attached to direct from a script by Barker and Paul Kaye, as well as Guillermo del Toro, Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin involved as producers, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany were set to star as husband and pregnant wife move, whose lives are shattered when the husband's Claymation cartoons start to come to life and reenact his nightmares, and The Chiodo Brothers, known for Killer Klowns from Outer Space, were set to create the animation.[19]
Jericho video game sequel
[edit]Down, Satan!
[edit]In 2008 it was reported that Barker's four page short-story Down, Satan! from The Books of Blood was being adapted into a movie. The script was written by Christopher Monfette for Barker's production company, Seraphim.[20]
Hotel TV series
[edit]On August 13, 2009, it was announced that Barker would be an executive producer of the television series Hotel from writing duo Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton, and McG's company Wonderland Sound and Vision producing the series with Warner Bros. Television.[21]
2010s
[edit]Zombies vs. Gladiators
[edit]On June 5, 2012, Barker rewrote the screenplay for the zombie film “Zombies vs. Gladiators” for Prime Video.[22]
Hellraiser remake
[edit]On October 25, 2013, Barker confirmed that he wrote the screenplay for a darker remake of Hellraiser that he would direct and Doug Bradley would star as Pinhead,[23] but on April 10, 2020, David Bruckner was set to direct the remake with Jamie Clayton playing Pinhead.[24]
Jacqueline Ess film
[edit]On January 29, 2014, Barker was set to produce the film adaptation of his short story “Jacqueline Ess” as coproduction with Raven Banner.[25]
Nightbreed TV series
[edit]Hellraiser TV series
[edit]Offers
[edit]End of Days
[edit]Barker was offered to direct End of Days before Peter Hyams was hired.
Alien 3
[edit]He was offered to write and direct Alien 3, but was not interested.[26]
References
[edit]- ^ Squires, John (June 8, 2017). "George Romero and Clive Barker Almost Directed 'The Mummy' Remakes in the 90s". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Michael (February 13, 1994). "Par fills 'Cupboard'". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Cox, Dan (March 26, 1997). "Barker, Rose team for U's kidpic 'Thief'". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ Higgens, Bill (April 17, 2000). "Mouse catches Barker". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Weinberg, Scott (February 7, 2006). ""SHREK" HELMER CATCHES BARKER'S "THIEF"". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Radish, Christina (October 14, 2020). "'Books of Blood': Clive Barker & Director Brannon Braga on Bringing Horror to Hulu". Collider. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (April 15, 2000). "Disney to Pay $8 Million for Fantasy Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Higgens, Bill (April 17, 2000). "Mouse catches Barker". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Phil Stokes; Sarah Stokes. "Sowing The Seeds Of The Story Tree". CliveBarker.info. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ How a 1997 New Times Feature on Homeless Kids' Folklore Exploded the Internet
- ^ Scott, Ryan (November 9, 2016). "Halloween Vs. Hellraiser Movie Almost Happened with John Carpenter". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Beresford, Jack (October 22, 2020). "Michael Myers vs Pinhead: The Hellraiser/Halloween Crossover That Never Was". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ JoBlo Horror Originals (April 24, 2013). "Hellraiser vs Halloween: Why It Went Unmade". YouTube. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Thorsen, Tor (May 19, 2005). "Clive Barker and John Woo get Demonik". GameSpot. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Thorsen, Tor (May 19, 2016). "5 Cancelled Horror Games We Wish Were Made". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Player’s Mind (April 24, 2013). "Cancelled Video Game: Clive Barker's Demonik (Trailer)". YouTube. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ GameSpot Staff (May 5, 2019). "Demonik Official Trailer 1". GameSpot. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (November 30, 2006). "Barker pairs with Walden for Poe thrills". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Graser, Marc (June 11, 2007). "Connelly, Bettany to star in 'Born'". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Barker's Satan Down With IGN
- ^ Warmoth, Brian (August 13, 2009). "Clive Barker Teaming With 'Saw' Writers For 'Hotel'". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (June 5, 2012). "Clive Barker to Take on 'Zombies vs. Gladiators' for Amazon Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (October 25, 2013). "Clive Barker Writing 'Hellraiser' Reboot For Dimension". IndieWire. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (April 10, 2020). "Spyglass' 'Hellraiser' Reboot Finds Its Writing/Directing Team (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 29, 2014). "Canada's Raven Banner Options Clive Barker Short Story 'Jacqueline Ess'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ 1000 Amazing Horror Movie Facts
