List of unproduced Dark Horse Comics projects
This is a list of unmade and unreleased projects based on Dark Horse Comics publications. Some of these productions were, or still are, in "development hell". Projects that have not provided significant production announcements within at least a year, would be considered in development limbo until further announcements are released. The following include films, television shows and video games, whether as live-action or animated productions.
Hellboy
Hellboy III
In July 2008, Guillermo del Toro expressed his interest in directing a third Hellboy film, saying that he would work on the film after finishing The Hobbit.[1] In 2010, during the production of the unmade At the Mountain of Madness, del Toro mentioned that he would direct Hellboy III after his next project, even though the script was not yet written.[2] del Toro later said in 2013 that the film was unlikely to be released, and suggested the possibility of telling its story in comic book form. Hellboy creator Mike Mignola refused to accept the idea.[3]
In a Reddit AMA from July 2014, del Toro said:
Well, you know, we don't have that movie on the horizon, but the idea for it was to have Hellboy finally come to terms with the fact that his destiny, his inevitable destiny, is to become the beast of the Apocalypse, and having him and Liz face the sort of, that part of his nature, and he has to do it, in order to be able to ironically vanquish the foe that he has to face in the 3rd film. He has to become the beast of the Apocalypse to be able to defend humanity, but at the same time, he becomes a much darker being. It's a very interesting ending to the series, but I don't think it will happen. ... We have gone through basically every studio and asked for financing, and they are not interested. I think that the first movie made its budget back, and a little bit of profit, but then it was very very big on video and DVD. The story repeated itself with the second already, it made its money back at the box office, but a small margin of profit in the release of the theatrical print, but was very very big on DVD and video. Sadly now from a business point of view all the studios know is that you don't have that safety net of the DVD and video, so they view the project as dangerous".[4]
Although Ron Perlman revealed that he was working on a new Hellboy film, and del Toro was unlikely to return,[5] del Toro later revealed that the third Hellboy movie was scrapped.[6] A reboot was released in April 2019 with no involvement from Del Toro.
Hellboy: Silverlance
In 2010, Hellboy screenwriter
Hellboy: The Phantom Claw film
A third animated Hellboy film, The Phantom Claw, was planned. Tad Stones, writer of Hellboy: Sword of Storms and Hellboy: Blood and Iron, said the film would have starred Lobster Johnson and have some familiar characters.[8][9] The film was ultimately canceled.
Black Hammer
Black Hammer film
In 2018, Legendary Entertainment signed a film deal with Dark Horse, which included a Black Hammer film. As of 2023 there have been no further announcements.[10]
Black Hammer TV series
In 2018, Legendary also signed a TV deal with Dark Horse for a Black Hammer television series. There have been no further announcements.[11][12]
The Mask
The Mask II
Not long after the release of
In 2001, Lance Khazei was asked by New Line Cinema to write a new script for a sequel to The Mask.[15] Nothing came from this version of the sequel and the film was changed into the critically despised, box-office disaster Son of the Mask.
The Mask reboot
In August 2014, Mike Richardson said: "We've been talking about reviving The Mask, both in film and in comics. We've had a couple of false starts".[16] There has been no further announcements.
Other
Sin City 3
Wallace was set to appear in Sin City 3, to be directed by
Concrete film
In 1993, a Concrete film was in pre-production during the early 1990s, with a script written by Larry Wilson and Paul Chadwick. The film was cancelled.[18]
Hard Boiled film
In 2001,
ArchEnemies film
As of September 2006, Sam Raimi has signed a deal to adapt the series into a film. Screenwriter Patrick O'Neill (Knight and Day), was hired to write the script; Raimi was attached to act as producer along with Mike Richardson and Josh Donen.[22] There have been no further announcements since.
The Black Pearl film
Although
Damn Nation film
In 2009, a Damn Nation film was announced by Paramount Pictures, to be written by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz.[27]
Fear Agent film
In July 2009, Universal Pictures was in the early stages of developing a film based on the Fear Agent comic series.[28]
The Umbrella Academy film
A film version of the comic book series
The Strange Case of Hyde film
In July 2010, Dark Horse was developing a film version of The Strange Case of Hyde with comic writer Cole Haddon writing the screenplay.[30] Albert Torres was writing the new script in 2012.[31] There have been no further developments since.
Beasts of Burden film
In 2011,
Charles Fort film
In October 2011, Robert Zemeckis was producing a Charles Fort film with Evan Spiliotopoulos writing the script.[35] There has been no further announcements since.
Mind MGMT film
In January 2013,
Timecop reboot
In 2014,
Breath of Bones film
In September 2014, Andrew Adamson was attached to direct the film adaptation of Breath of Bones.[44] There have been no further developments since.
Harrow County TV series
Blood Brothers film
In August 2015, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was looking for a writer/director for the Blood Brothers film with Michael B. Jordan in talks to star.[46][47] There have been no further developments since.
Untitled 300: Rise of an Empire sequel
In March 2016, Zack Snyder said that more sequels could go to topics beyond Ancient Greece, like the American Revolutionary War or a battle in China.[48]
In May 2021, Snyder revealed that he had written an Alexander the Great film that was intended to function as a conclusion to the 300 trilogy, but it evolved into having a greater focus on a love story between Alexander and Hephaestion, leading Snyder to think it could not function as a third 300 film. The script was retitled Blood and Ashes but it failed to be greenlit by Warner Bros. Pictures.[49]
Freaks Of the Heartland TV series
In October 2016, MTV and Dark Horse announced a Freaks Of the Heartland TV series with David Gordon Green directing the pilot and producing the series.[50] There have been no further developments since.
Flutter TV series
In July 2017,
Briggs Land TV series
In May 2016, Dark Horse planned a television series based on the Briggs Land comic series, with
There has been no further announcements since.The Amazing Screw-On Head TV series
On July 12, 2006, The Amazing Screw-On Head TV pilot was aired online at scifi.com with a survey to decide whether or not the show went to series. According to Mike Mignola on the November 29 Fanboy Radio podcast the same year, the series was not picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel.[53]
Apocalypse Nerd TV miniseries
Fantagraphics, who publish much of Bagge's work, reported in early 2010 that Apocalypse Nerd was going to be adapted as a six-part series for television by Nois Productions (Alex Carvalho/Tupaq Felber) and the pilot was being pitched to BBC.[54][55] There has been no further announcements.
Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery film
A Cal McDonald film was said to be on the way, but due to the nature of the character, Steve Niles did not want to compromise or "water down" Cal McDonald, making it tough to find a studio that will finance the film as is.[56] Universal Pictures signed a deal to produce a Criminal Macabre film with Kyle Ward scripting. It was set for release in 2010, but there have been no further announcements.
House of Gold & Bones film
At a signing,
Jingle Belle film
In 1999, Jingle Belle was to be adapted as a live-action feature film by Revolution Studios, scripted by Gina Wendkos (Jersey Girl, Coyote Ugly, The Princess Diaries).[58] Paul Dini said he has received proposals to do film adaptations, but did not want to give up ownership or control of the character.[59]
Untitled Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem sequel
In 2007, during the production of
Last Man Standing: Killbook of a Bounty Hunter film
At
There have been no further announcements.Rex Mundi film
There have been a number of rumours about a film version of
The Secret film
In 2009, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to make a film adaptation of The Secret. Mike Richardson was set to produce, along with Scott Stuber.[70] There have been no further announcements.
Sock Monkey film
In 2014, millionaire and animator Matt Danner created an proof-of-concept short based on the comic Sock Monkey to promote an upcoming live-action/animated feature. The film, to be written and directed by Danner, was to be based on the storybook Sock Monkey Into the Deep Woods. As of April 2017, they were currently shopping around Hollywood to find investors that are interested in the film.[71] There have been no further announcements.
Emily the Strange film
Since 2000, Rob Reger has been trying to make a feature film adaptation of
Barb Wire video game
Enemy TV series
In 2016, Dark Horse Entertainment and TriStar Television planned a television series based on the graphic novel Enemy.[84]
Shaolin Cowboy and the Tomb of Doom film
In 2008,
See also
- Dark Horse Comics
- Dark Horse Entertainment
- List of television series and films based on Dark Horse Comics publications
- List of unproduced film projects based on Marvel Comics
- List of unproduced DC Comics projects
- List of unproduced Image Comics projects
- List of comic-based films directed by women
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