Doug Liman's Unrealized Projects

During his long career, American filmmaker Doug Liman 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

''The Breakers''

In 1997, following the release of his second film '' Swingers'', Liman was attached to direct United Artists' ''The Breakers'' starring Alicia Silverstone and Angelica Huston in the cast, but he opted to helm '' Go'' in its place instead. This project eventually became '' Heartbreakers'', which was made in 2001 but without the involvement of Liman, Silverstone or Huston.

''Bachelor No. 2''

Also in 1997, it was reported in ''Variety'' that Liman was additionally attached to Working Title's ''Bachelor No. 2'', which follows "a guy who wins a dream date with a gorgeous woman who turns out to be a nightmare."

''Three Days Out''

In the late 1990s, Liman became attached to direct an action film script by author John Freeman Gill at Propaganda Films called ''Three Days Out'', which follows former astronauts who steal NASA equipment in order to "take a bit of an unauthorized jaunt into space."

''Sonny Bright''

In November 1999, Liman was set to direct the spec script by Wayne Rice and Gina Goldman entitled ''Sonny Bright'', with the Farrelly brothers attached as producers.

2000s

Untitled Martha's Vineyard film

On June 17, 2002, it was reported that following the release of '' The Bourne Identity'', Liman was in the process of completing a new screenplay that involved military action set in Martha's Vineyard.

''SDNY'' series

Also on June 17, 2002, it was reported that Liman was working ''SDNY,'' a television series based on his brother Lewis' legal career, especially Lewis' connection to ImClone Systems founder and former CEO Samuel D. Waksal, for ABC.

Untitled HBO pilot

Also on June 17, 2002, it was reported that Liman was working on a television pilot for HBO.

''Southcom'' TV pilot

On December 15, 2002, it was reported that an hourlong NBC drama ''Southcom'' about soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico was being developed by Liman's company Hypnotic, with Matthew Carnahan hired to write and executive alongside. Liman was to direct if the script was greenlit as a pilot.

''CHiPs'' series reboot

Also on December 15, 2002,

''Delusions'' TV pilot

''Seattle Rescue'' TV pilot

Untitled Las Vegas TV pilot

Untitled legal drama TV pilot

Untitled comedy TV pilot

Untitled action drama film

On June 30, 2004, it was announced that Warner Bros. Pictures had acquired a pitch for an untitled action drama centered on the California Highway Patrol, to be directed by Liman and scripted by Sheldon Turner; Liman would also produce the film alongside Dave Bartis and Jonathan Shestack.

''22 Birthdays'' TV pilot

On August 14, 2005,

''Knight Rider'' series reboot

On September 26, 2007, it was reported that Liman was "open to directing" the two-hour backdoor pilot for the Knight Rider series reboot, though he would ultimately only serve as executive producer on the project.

''Luna Park''

On November 27, 2007, Liman was set to direct an untitled science fiction film for DreamWorks Pictures about a lunar expedition, with Jake Gyllenhaal set to star. On June 6, 2011, it was announced that the film, now titled ''Luna'', would be co-financed by New Regency and Skydance Media for Paramount Pictures, with Simon Kinberg joining the project as a writer and producer. On September 9, 2015, Tom Cruise signed on to star in the film, which was now titled ''Luna Park''.

2010s

''Attica''

On February 16, 2010, Liman was set to direct Geoffrey S. Fletcher's screenplay ''Attica'' with Liman producing the movie with Dave Bartis, Elloit Abbott, & Avram Ludwig.

''The Three Musketeers''

On May 7, 2010, Liman was set to direct a film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel ''The Three Musketeers'' with Peter Straughan and Bridget O'Connor writing the screenplay and Lionel Wigram producing for Warner Bros. Pictures, but it was canceled that August, due to Paul W. S. Anderson's competing 2011 adaptation; Liman would ultimately direct the '' All You Need is Kill'' adaptation, ''Edge of Tomorrow'', instead.

''The Last of the Tribe''

On July 13, 2010, Liman was set to direct Monte Reel's non-fiction novel ''The Last of the Tribe: The Epic Quest to Save a Lone Man in the Amazon'' with Liman producing with Dave Bartis, Ed Saxon, Steve Schwartz, and Paula Mae Schwartz. On April 15, 2015, it was announced that Paul Haggis had entered talks to direct the project, with Liman now only involved as a producer.

''The Osterman Weekend'' reboot

On September 3, 2010, Liman was set to produce a film adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel '' The Osterman Weekend'' with Jesse Wigutow writing the screenplay and Peter Davis, Simon Kinberg, Jeffrey Weiner, and Henry Morrison producing for Summit Entertainment, On February 28, 2012, it was announced that Brian Kirk had entered talks to direct the project, but on May 18, 2016, the adaptation was likely incorporated into a planned shared universe of Ludlum adaptations for Universal Pictures, Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions & James Vanderbilt's Mythology Entertainment without Liman.

Untitled Two-Gun Cohen biopic

On March 21, 2011, Liman was set to direct a '' Two-Gun Cohen'' biopic with Matt Brown writing the screenplay, Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman producing in collaboration with the Chinese company Galloping Horse.

''Everest''

On November 30, 2011, it was announced that Liman would direct ''Everest'', based on the Jeffrey Archer novel ''Paths of Glory'' about mountaineer George Mallory's attempts to scale Mount Everest in the 1920s , for Sony Pictures, with Sheldon Turner adapting the novel. On September 24, 2012, it was announced that Tom Hardy had entered talks to star as Mallory. In October 2013, it was announced that the project was preparing to begin production in March 2014, but that Hardy had dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. On June 16, 2021, it was announced that Ewan McGregor had been cast as Mallory, alongside Mark Strong as Arthur Hinks and Sam Heughan as George Finch. Production was expected to begin in January 2022, with HanWay Films now handling the project's international sales and cinematographer Martin Ruhe, production designer Oliver Scholl, and composer T Bone Burnett all attached to the project.

''Time and Again''

''The Tourist''

On September 7, 2012, Liman was set to direct and produce the film adaptation of Olen Steinhauer's novel ''The Tourist'' for Sony Pictures.

''Heartbeats'' series

On November 5, 2013, Liman was set to produce Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan's romantic dramedy series ''Heartbeats,'' with Liman's business partner Dave Bartis will serve as executive producers and Jones and Mohan will co-executive produce the series for Starz.

''El Presidente''

On November 19, 2013, Liman was set to take over directing the comedy ''El Presidente'' from Jay Roach, with Tom Cruise starring, Paul Attanasio writing the script, and Warner Bros. set to distribute.

''Splinter Cell''

''Victory'' remake

''Railhead''

On October 20, 2015, Liman was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Philip Reeve's novel ''Railhead