Terry Zwigoff's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Terry Zwigoff projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American film director Terry Zwigoff has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these productions fell in development hell or were cancelled.[1][2]
1980s
[edit]Sassy
[edit]According to Vice, Zwigoff and Robert Crumb were once hired by the Mitchell brothers to write a pornographic film based on one of Crumb's comics about a female sasquatch who is dragged from the wild into the culturally bankrupt world of modern America.[3] Their unproduced and ultimately non-pornographic screenplay, titled Sassy, was written in 1988.
1990s
[edit]Stuart
[edit]In 1997, it was reported in Variety that Zwigoff was attached to direct Stuart, a film co-written by Dave Sheridan with Larry Doyle, based on a hapless character Sheridan created in a short film years prior. The plot follows a Texan who lives in a trailer and becomes obsessed with a female acquaintance of his after she casually mentions something about love.[4]
2000s
[edit]Elf
[edit]Zwigoff turned down the offer to direct Elf (2003) in favor of directing Bad Santa (2003).[5][6]
Happy Days
[edit]In July 2006, it was reported that Zwigoff was to write and direct a film adaptation of the French novel Happy Days by Laurent Graff. Jerry Stahl was to have co-written the script with Zwigoff and the film was to have been produced by Johnny Depp via Infinitum Nihil and Graham King via Initial Entertainment Group.[7][8]
The $40,000 Man
[edit]In September 2007, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct and co-write with Daniel Clowes a film titled The $40,000 Man for New Line Cinema.[9][10]
King's Court TV series
[edit]In 2008, Zwigoff attempted to make a proposed series called King's Court for HBO, which would have starred Tony Cox in the lead as a donut shop owner with big dreams. "The idea was a largely black cast in an area of L.A. that was in an apartment complex," Zwigoff said. "It wasn't about race, but it was about class. I thought it was really funny and [Cox] loved it. [...] I sent it to HBO and they said 'I don't know, we already have a Black show'."[11]
2010s
[edit]Maximum Bob
[edit]In a 2012 interview with IndieWire, Zwigoff claimed he attempted to write and direct a film adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel Maximum Bob.[12]
Justice for Al
[edit]In June 2013, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct Fred Armisen in a film he co-wrote with Melissa Axelrod titled Justice for Al.[13][14]
Lost Melody
[edit]In July 2013, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct a film he co-wrote with Melissa Axelrod titled Lost Melody with Edward R. Pressman producing and Nicolas Cage slated to star.[15][16][17]
Edward Ford
[edit]Zwigoff confirmed in a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair that he attempted to make Lem Dobbs’ unproduced script titled Edward Ford into a film with Michael Shannon slated to star. According to Zwigoff, the film was never made because "the money fell through."[1]
2020s
[edit]Untitled TV series
[edit]In the 2020s, Zwigoff was reportedly developing a series with writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. He expressed interest in casting Tony Cox for a role if greenlit for production.[11][18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hoffman, Jordan (May 18, 2017). "Ghost World Director Terry Zwigoff Has Learned to Expect the Worst from Hollywood". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (May 18, 2017). "'Ghost World' Director Terry Zwigoff Runs Down All The Films He Couldn't Get Made". ThePlaylist.net. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Koester, Megan (May 17, 2017). "Terry Zwigoff Doesn't Like Doing Interviews". Vice. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Archer, Michael (October 23, 1997). "Norton taking leap of 'Faith' as director". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ Sherlock, Ben (August 4, 2020). "You Sit On A Throne Of Lies: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Elf". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Udovitch, Mim (November 30, 2003). "FILM Terry Zwigoff's Santa: He's Making a List And Checking His Escape Routes Twice". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Green, Willow (July 11, 2006). "Depp And Zwigoff Have Happy Days". Empire. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ "Johnny Depp Hires Terry Zwigoff To Write and Direct Happy Days". MovieWeb. July 10, 2006. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (September 14, 2007). "Zwigoff the 'Man' for New Line pic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ "Zwigoff Making $40,000 Man". IGN. September 14, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "Years before 'Bad Santa' launched him into stardom, Tony Cox was a boy from Alabama who kept the faith". CBS 42. December 22, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (December 20, 2012). "Terry Zwigoff Talks Battling Over 'Bad Santa,' His Preferred Director's Cut & Much More In Candid Interview". IndieWire. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 13, 2013). "'SNL's' Fred Armisen to Star in Comedy From 'Bad Santa' Director Terry Zwigoff (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (June 14, 2013). "Fred Armisen Will Find 'Justice For Al' In Next Film From 'Bad Santa' & 'Ghost World' Director Terry Zwigoff". IndieWire. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Eames, Tom (July 4, 2013). "Nicolas Cage to fall for prostitute in new indie movie 'Lost Melody'". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Nicholson, Max (July 2, 2013). "Nic Cage Goes Indie for Lost Melody". IGN. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (July 1, 2013). "Nicolas Cage Teaming With Terry Zwigoff, Ed Pressman for 'Lost Melody' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (November 13, 2023). "UW-Madison grad Terry Zwigoff is as delightfully acerbic as his movies". The Capital Times. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
