
Hollywood’s love affair with superhero films has produced countless box office hits. But for every caped crusader that graces the silver screen, numerous projects remain forever trapped in development limbo. These unmade movies excited fans with their potential, but unfortunately, we might never experience them. Here are 15 movies that faded into obscurity.
Superman Lives (1998)

Tim Burton’s take on the Man of Steel nearly flew into cinemas. And guess what? Nicolas Cage was set to don the iconic red cape, with a script by Kevin Smith. The film promised a fresh, darker interpretation of Superman. However, the ambitious project remained a dream due to budget concerns and creative differences and never took off.
Batman: Year One (2000)

We all love a little Batman action, but did you know that in 2000, Darren Aronofsky’s gritty Batman origin story was grounded? Well, it was, and here is what we would have seen: A reinvented Dark Knight, an African-American mechanic Alfred called “Big Al,” and a poor young Bruce Wayne! Warner Bros. thought this was a radical take and went with Batman Begins.
Spider-Man 4 (2011)

Sam Raimi had an idea to go with the fourth installment of the Spider-Man trilogy. John Malkovich was slated to play the Vulture, with Anne Hathaway as Black Cat. Then came the problems with the script and unprecedented delays due to studio disagreements. Eventually, Sony rebooted the franchise with The Amazing Spider-Man, leaving fans wondering about Tobey Maguire’s final swing.
Joss Whedon’s Wonder Woman (2006)

Before bringing the Avengers together, Joss Whedon pitched a Wonder Woman film. His take focused on Diana’s first adventure in man’s world, and the script blended mythology with modern-day action. Despite Whedon’s success with strong female characters, Warner Bros. passed on the project. Because of this, the world had to wait for the 2017 Wonder Woman movie played by Gad Gadot. It was worth it!
X-Men Origins: Magneto (2009)

Similar to most franchises, prequels take us back in time so we could explore certain characters. This one was an exploration of Magneto’s tragic past and rise to power. The story would have shown Magneto hunting Nazi war criminals. Fortunately, some elements of this concept were later incorporated into X-Men: First Class, but the solo film never materialized.
Green Arrow: Escape from Super Max (2008)

This unique spin on the Emerald Archer placed Oliver Queen in a prison for supervillains. Oliver was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and he had to find a way to break out. The script featured cameos from numerous DC villains (which would have been cool). The story behind the failure is that the project never hit targets with the studio executives, so it tanked!
James Cameron’s Spider-Man (1990s)

Another Spider-Man universe movie that never materialized is James Cameron’s Spider-Man. This was before Sam Raimi’s trilogy. Cameron’s treatment featured organic web shooters and a more mature tone, and he would have faced Electro and Sandman as villains. Rights issues and other projects pulled Cameron away, and this left fans to imagine what the Titanic director’s take might have been.
George Miller’s “Justice League: Mortal (2009)”

The 2007-2008 writers’ strike and tax credit issues in Australia derailed the production of Mad Max director George Miller’s rendition of the “Justice League.” Miller assembled a cast of young actors for this ambitious team-up. Armie Hammer was to play Batman and Adam Brody the Flash. The script pitted the League against Maxwell Lord and his army of OMACs.
Plastic Man (1990s)

We’ve had Ant-Man, but what you didn’t know is that we almost had Plastic Man. The Wachowskis, pre-Matrix fame, penned a screenplay for DC’s stretchiest hero. Their take on Plastic Man blended comedy with action, focusing on his criminal past. The script gained positive buzz in Hollywood circles. However, the success of The Matrix redirected the Wachowskis’ career, and this left Plastic Man unexplored.
Silver Surfer (2000s)

After the motion picture 2000 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Fox had planned a spin-off for the cosmic hero that never came to fruition. J. Michael Straczynski wrote a script exploring the Surfer’s origins, which included his transformation from Norrin Radd to the Herald of Galactus. The project lost momentum when Disney acquired Fox, and they also absorbed the Fantastic Four rights.
Dazzler (1980)

In a bizarre confluence of disco and superheroes, Marvel planned an action-packed Dazzler movie. The light-manipulating mutant was explicitly created for cross-promotion with Casablanca Records. KISS frontman Gene Simmons was involved in early development, but the disco era faded before production could begin, and Dazzler retreated to the comic book pages.
Neil Gaiman’s Death: The High Cost of Living (2000s)

Based on Gaiman’s beloved Sandman spin-off, Neil Gaiman’s Death: The High Cost of Living film would have centered on Death of the Endless. The story follows Death as she experiences mortality for one day every century. Guillermo del Toro was attached as executive producer, but even with his involvement, the project never found its footing in Hollywood’s afterlife.
Lobo (2009)

Guy Ritchie was set to bring DC’s foul-mouthed space bounty hunter to life in Lobo, where Dwayne Johnson was rumored for the lead role. The script promised a blend of violence and dark humor true to the character, and this would have been quite the show. Ritchie’s departure to direct Sherlock Holmes left Lobo adrift in space. The Main Man still awaits his big-screen debut.
Guillermo del Toro’s Doctor Strange (2000s)

Way before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, del Toro pitched his vision for the Sorcerer Supreme. His take promised to explore Strange’s journey from arrogant surgeon to master of mystic arts. Del Toro’s penchant for visual flair seemed perfect for Strange’s magical realm, but the project fizzled out. Luckily, a few elements of his ideas still influenced the eventual MCU film.
David Fincher’s Spider-Man (1999)

After the success of Fight Club, David Fincher considered helming a Spider-Man movie to no avail. His darker vision would have skipped the origin story, starting with an experienced Peter Parker. Fincher wanted to explore the toll of being Spider-Man on Peter’s personal life. In a somewhat predictable twist, Sony opted for a more traditional approach with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in 2002.