Alexandre Aja's unrealized projects
During his long career, French filmmaker Alexandre Aja 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 later be developed by a different production team.
2000s
= ''The Waiting'' =
On November 2, 2005, Aja was set to direct Juliet Snowden and Stiles White’s supernatural horror-thriller screenplay The Waiting, with Grégory Levasseur executive producing with Maddalena Films and Gold Circle Films for Rogue Pictures.{{cite news|first=Ian|last=Mohr|title=Rogue wins rights race for 'Waiting'|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/rogue-wins-rights-race-for-waiting-1117932209/|date=November 2, 2005|website=Variety|access-date=July 30, 2024}}
= ''Black Hole'' film =
On March 8, 2006, Aja was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Charles Burns' graphic novel Black Hole with Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary co-writing the screenplay and Plan B Entertainment & MTV Films producing the film for Paramount Pictures.{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Weinberg|title=GAIMAN, AVARY, AND AJA TO VISIT A "BLACK HOLE"|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/gaiman-avary-and-aja-to-visit-a-black-hole/|date=March 8, 2006|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=August 9, 2024}}
= ''The Gospel According to Jimmy'' film =
On October 4, 2006, Aja was set to direct, write, and produce the feature film adaptation of The Gospel According to Jimmy, with Alexandre Films producing the adaptation.{{cite news|first=Allison|last=James|title='Gospel' according to helmer Aja|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/gospel-according-to-helmer-aja-1117951254/|date=October 4, 2006|website=Variety|access-date=July 30, 2024}}
= ''The Contractor/The Contractors'' =
On March 12, 2009, Aja was set to direct the action thriller The Contractor with Ian Jeffers writing a draft, and Alexandra Milchan producing the movie & Gaumont set to distribute.{{cite news|first=Gareth|last=Franklin|title=Alexandre Aja Hires A "Contractor"|url=https://www.darkhorizons.com/alexandre-aja-hires-a-contractor/|date=March 12, 2009|website=Dark Horizons|access-date=March 18, 2025}} In 2010, the movie was retitled The Contractors.{{cite news|author1=John Hopewell|author2=Elsa Keslassy|title=French film companies shine at Berlin|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/french-film-companies-shine-at-berlin-1118014714/|date=February 7, 2010|website=Variety|quote="which has a brace of English-language pics in development with U.S. producers Nick Wechsler and Alexandra Milchan, such as Alexandre Aja’s “The Contractors.”"|access-date=March 18, 2025}}{{cite news|author=Dave McNary|title=Emjag, Platinum out for 'Blood'|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/emjag-platinum-out-for-blood-1118018415/|date=April 28, 2010|website=Variety|quote="She’s developing Alexandre Aja’s “The Contractors” with Gaumont,..."|access-date=March 18, 2025}}
2010s
= Live-action ''Cobra'' film =
On May 2, 2011, Aja was set to direct the live-action film adaptation of Cobra: The Space Pirate with Aja co-writing the screenplay with Grégory Levasseur, and Levasseur producing with Aton Soumache, Dimitri Rassam, Alexandra Milchan, Marc Sessego, Andree Cornier for Onyx,{{cite news|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|title=Onyx boards Aja's 'Cobra'|url=https://variety.com/2011/biz/news/onyx-boards-aja-s-cobra-1118036248/|date=May 2, 2011|website=Variety|access-date=August 9, 2024}} but on March 14, 2018, Aja revealed on the podcast Post Mordem with Mick Garris that he left the movie because of a regime change at Lionsgate Films and the similiaties to Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.{{cite news|author=Mick Garris|title=Alexandre Aja|url=https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-bqfja-3b38b21?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share|date=March 14, 2018|website=Podbean|access-date=August 9, 2024}}
= ''Scanners'' TV series =
On July 22, 2011, Aja was set to possibly direct and executive produce the television series adaptation of David Cronenberg's film Scanners with Dimension Television producing the series,{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|title=Dimension To Develop 'Scanners' TV Series|url=https://deadline.com/2011/07/dimension-to-develop-scanners-tv-series-149035/|date=July 22, 2011|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 9, 2024}} until September 21, 2022, when HBO started development without Aja's involvement.{{cite news|first=Borys|last=Kit|title=David Cronenberg's 'Scanners' Heads to HBO as a Series With 'Black Mirror' Writer, 'Lovecraft Country' Director (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-cronenberg-scanners-hbo-series-1235224287/|date=September 21, 2022|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
= ''Undying Love'' film =
On March 2, 2012, Aja was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman's graphic novel Undying Love with Michael De Luca, Stephen L’Heureux and Benderspink producing the film,{{cite news|first=Evan|last=Dickson|title=Alexandre Aja Has 'Undying Love' For You|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/28652/alexandre-aja-has-undying-love-for-you/|date=March 2, 2012|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=August 9, 2024}} but was replaced by Joe Carnahan{{cite news|first=Borys|last=Kit|title=Joe Carnahan in Talks to Direct Vampire Action Project 'Undying Love'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joe-carnahan-direct-undying-love-394794/|date=November 27, 2012|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 9, 2024}} and David Leitch, respectively.{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Fleming Jr.|title=David Leitch To Helm 'Undying Love;' Graphic Novel Moves To Studio 8|url=https://deadline.com/2011/07/dimension-to-develop-scanners-tv-series-149035/|date=January 30, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 9, 2024}}
= ''Les Sentinelles'' film =
On July 1, 2014, Aja was set to produce Julien Mokrani's feature film adaptation of Xavier Dorison & Enrique Breccia's graphic novel Les Sentinelles with Pavlina Hatoupis and Alix Taylor producing along with Aja.{{cite news|first=Todd|last=Brown|title=Absolutely Gorgeous Concept Art For Julien Mokrani's Alex Aja Produced Adaptation Of French Graphic Novel LES SENTINELLES|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2014/07/absolutely-gorgeous-concept-art-for-julien-mokranis-alex-aja-produced-adaptation-of-french-graphic-n-gallery.html|date=July 1, 2014|website=Screen Anarchy|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
= ''Wedding Gown'' =
On October 27, 2014, Aja was set to direct Wedding Gown, with Aja co-writing the script with Maxime Giffard and Jon Crocker, and produced by Aja's company.{{cite news|first=Brad|last=Miska|title=Alex Aja Faces Evil In 'Wedding Gown'|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/indie/3318913/alex-aja-faces-evil-wedding-gown/|date=October 27, 2014|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
= ''The Marquis'' film =
On June 1, 2016, Aja was set to direct and write the feature film adaptation of Jean Teulé’s romantic novel The Marquis, with Gaumont and LGM Cinema producing the film.{{cite news|author=Dave McNary|title=Alexandre Aja Directing Romantic Drama 'The Marquis'|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/alexandre-aja-direct-romance-drama-the-marquis-1201787292/|date=June 1, 2016|website=Variety|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
= ''Smart House'' =
On April 20, 2017, Aja was set to direct Brad Keene’s thriller screenplay Smart House with James Wan’s Atomic Monster producing the film and Summit Entertainment will distribute.{{cite news|first=Justin|last=Kroll|title=Lionsgate Nabs Rights to James Wan's 'Smart House'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lionsgate-nabs-rights-james-wans-smart-house-995847/|date=April 20, 2017|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
= ''Mice & Mystics'' film =
On October 24, 2018, Aja was set to direct an animated film adaptation of Jerry Hawthorne’s board game Mice & Mystics with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Aja writing the screenplay, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Jon Berg producing in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation.{{cite news|author=Dave McNary|title=DreamWorks Animation to Develop 'Mice and Mystics' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dreamworks-animation-mice-and-mystics-movie-1202992375/|date=October 24, 2018|website=Variety|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
= American ''Tomie'' streaming series =
On July 24, 2019, Aja was set to direct and produce the American television adaptation of Junji Ito’s manga Tomie with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick writing the series, Sony Pictures Television producing in collaboration with Universal Content Productions, and Quibi set to distribute.{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Lopez|title=Alexandre Aja, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick Bring 'Tomie' Live-Action Series to Quibi|url=https://www.thewrap.com/alexandre-aja-david-leslie-johnson-mcgoldrick-bring-tomie-live-action-series-to-quibi/|date=October 24, 2018|website=The Wrap|access-date=February 6, 2025}} On July 9, 2020, Adeline Rudolph was cast as the lead of the series,{{cite news|first=Denise|last=Petski|title=Quibi Greenlights 'Tomie' Based On Horror Manga Series; Adeline Rudolph To Star|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/quibi-tomie-based-horror-manga-series-adeline-rudolph-1202979897/|date=July 9, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 6, 2025}} but the series was canceled because Quibi shut down and is unknown if it would find another distributor.{{Cite web|author1=Jill Goldsmith|author2=Dade Hayes|author3=Michael Fleming Jr.|title=Assessing Quibi Debacle: Financiers Second Guess While A Film Crew Struggles To Finish A Production In Ukraine After Being Told To Shut Down|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/quibi-downfall-what-happened-investors-business-model-hollywood-analysis-1234602285/|date=October 23, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
= Interactive haunted house film =
On August 14, 2019, Aja was set to direct an haunted house film from a screenplay by Jeff Howard with Mike Flanagan getting story credit, and would be produced with Amblin Entertainment.{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|title=Exclusive: 'Crawl's Alexandre Aja to Direct Interactive Haunted House Movie for Amblin|url=https://collider.com/alexandre-aja-mike-flanagan-interactive-haunted-house-movie/|date=August 14, 2019|website=Collider|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
2020s
= ''Elijah'' =
On November 19, 2020, Aja was set to direct Cory Goldman’s horror thriller script Elijah, with Aja and Grégory Levasseur rewriting the script, David Goyer’s Phantom Four & Adam Goldworm’s Aperture Entertainment producing the film and Searchlight Pictures distributing the film.{{cite news|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|title='Crawl' Filmmaker Alexandre Aja Directing 'Elijah' For Searchlight Pictures|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/alexandre-aja-directing-elijah-searchlight-pictures-1234618971/|date=November 19, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
= ''Mr. Thisforthat'' feature film =
On February 17, 2021, Aja was set to produce Thomas Mendolia's feature film remake of his short film Mr. Thisforthat, with Michael Karr writing the script, and Craig Flores' Bread & Circuses, Peter Luo’s Stars Collective & Jake Wagner producing the feature film.{{cite news|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|title=Horror Short 'Mr. Thisforthat' Getting Feature Take from Alexandre Aja, Craig Flores & Stars Collective|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/alexandre-aja-craig-flores-crawl-team-horror-movie-mr-thisforthat-1234695816/|date=February 17, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
References
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