Mike Nichols' unrealized projects

In January 1964, Nichols was announced to make his feature film debut as director with a film adaptation of Peter Shaffer's play The Public Eye, after the rights were bought by producer Ross Hunter.{{cite news|title=PEOPLE AND PICTURES: Ross Hunter's 'Public Eye' -- Modern And Period Heroines -- Tots' Tale|author=Weiler, A. H.|date=January 12, 1964|work=The New York Times|page=X7}} He was still attached to direct the film by December that year when he agreed to direct Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which would become his debut instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/12/archives/nichols-to-direct-virginia-woolf-warners-schedules-movie-production.html|title=NICHOLS TO DIRECT 'VIRGINIA WOOLF'; Warners Schedules Movie Production for June|date=December 12, 1964|work=The New York Times}}

In December 1965, Nichols was in talks to helm the screen version of Neil Simon's stage play Barefoot in the Park for Paramount Pictures, but was reluctant to repeat the same projects in a new medium, as he had already directed it for stage. The following year, Gene Saks signed on to make his feature directorial debut with the film.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/22475|title=AFI|Catalog - Barefoot in the Park|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

{{main|A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (film)#Production}}

{{main|Funny Girl (film)#Development}}

In the 1970s, Warner Bros. chief John Calley wanted Nichols to direct the film adaptation of William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist, and Nichols told both Elaine May and David Geffen that missing the opportunity was his biggest regret.{{cite news|first=Gwynns|last=Watkins|title=Mike Nichols Regretted Not Directing 'The Exorcist'|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mike-nichols-regretted-not-directing-the-128848002007.html|date=September 11, 2015|website=Yahoo! News|access-date=February 8, 2024}}

Nichols was the first director Sam Spiegel hired to take on directing duties for an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel The Last Tycoon.{{cite news|last=Farber|first=Stephen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/21/archives/hollywood-takes-on-the-last-tycoon.html|title=Hollywood Takes On The Last Tycoon'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 21, 1976|access-date=March 20, 2024}} In Nichol's version, the character of Monroe Stahr was to have been played by Al Pacino.{{cite magazine|last=Setoodeh|first=Ramin|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/mike-nichols-death-al-pacino-remembers-1201361303/|title=Al Pacino Remembers Mike Nichols: 'I Loved Him So Much'|magazine=Variety|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2024}} He worked for a year and a half on the film before dropping out due to editing duties on The Fortune. "I think [Nichols] knew that he had an unsuccessful picture," Spiegel commented. "And he was in a state of depression. He wanted me to postpone the picture for a year. I wouldn't dream of it." Instead, Spiegel hired Elia Kazan to direct The Last Tycoon, who cast Robert De Niro as Stahr.

Nichols was writers John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion's second choice to direct their musical remake of A Star Is Born, centered in the rock world. Warren Beatty was also linked to the film, but Frank Pierson would direct it.{{cite magazine|last=Gray|first=Tim|url=https://variety.com/2019/vintage/features/a-star-is-born-versions-1203109215/|title=The Story of 'A Star Is Born' Before Bradley Cooper's Version|magazine=Variety|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=March 18, 2024}}

{{main|The Goodbye Girl#Production}}

After Nichols departed from the production of Bogart Slept Here, by November 1975, he reportedly agreed to produce and direct Jay Presson Allen's Just Tell Me What You Want for Warner Bros. Nichols would not remain with the project however, and Sidney Lumet would sign on to helm instead.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/56451|title=AFI|Catalog - Just Tell Me What You Want|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Around 1976–77, actress Julie Christie, producer David Susskind and Nichols expressed interest in Swing Shift, an original screenplay by Nancy Dowd for Paramount. At this stage, the story focused on the central characters of "Lucky Lockhart" and "Rosie", who was later rewritten as "Hazel Zanussi" following several rewrites over the years, overseen by Bo Goldman and Ron Nyswaner. In the 1980s, Jonathan Demme signed on to direct the film for Warner Bros., which starred Goldie Hawn.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/57221|title=AFI|Catalog - Swing Shift|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Following the 1977 staging of the musical Annie on Broadway, the writers asked $5 million for film rights, and requested for Nichols to direct the adaptation. By December, Columbia Pictures acquired the property. John Huston would direct the film instead, released in 1982.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/56724|title=AFI|Catalog - Annie|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

{{main|Melvin and Howard#Production}}

In 1978, Nichols spent several months working on the film adaptation of A Chorus Line for Universal Pictures with screenwriter Bo Goldman, who were both concerned about how to widen its plot and make it more visual without destroying what made the original stage production so affective. Goldman's finished screenplay did not satisfy Universal head Ned Tanen and their version was ultimately scrapped after Nichols could not receive a larger projected budget than $16 million, which he deemed "impractical". The project eventually landed at Columbia Pictures, and Richard Attenborough was selected to direct the film, in 1985.{{cite news|last=Freedman|first=Samuel G.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/11/movies/chorus-line-vs-hollywood-a-saga.html|title='CHORUS LINE' VS. HOLLYWOOD-A SAGA|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 11, 1984|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

{{main|The Jerk#Production}}

Nichols was one of several directors who tried and failed to conquer the complicated narrative of John Fowles' epic romantic novel The French Lieutenant's Woman, before the adaptation was eventually produced in 1980 by British director Karel Reisz.{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/the-french-lieutenant-s-woman-1200424848/|title=The French Lieutenant's Woman|magazine=Variety|date=December 31, 1980|access-date=March 18, 2024}}

In 1979, Nichols and Miloš Forman expressed interest in dividing directorial duties of the NY and European scenes, respectively, for Sophie's Choice, which Alan J. Pakula had signed on earlier to produce and direct.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/55227|title=AFI|Catalog - Sophie's Choice|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

A week after the New York stage opening of Harold Pinter's play Betrayal, Nichols agreed to direct a film version for producer Sam Spiegel. They wanted Meryl Streep to play the heroine, but she changed her mind after her role in The French Lieutenant's Woman, which was also set in England, left her away from her family. After Streep's departure, Nichols too left the project, and David Jones was signed to replace him.{{cite news|last=Chase|first=Chris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/18/movies/at-the-movies-surprises-and-luck-tell-story-of-betrayal.html|title=AT THE MOVIES; Surprises and luck tell story of 'Betrayal.'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 18, 1983|access-date=March 19, 2024}}

{{main|First Blood#Development}}

In 1981, it was reported that 20th Century-Fox was financing Nichols's film of mystery writer P. D. James's Innocent Blood, a novel about a woman's search for identity. Tom Stoppard worked on the screenplay for the film, and Frank Yablans was set to produce.{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Francis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/22/movies/hollywood-embraces-the-difficult-novel.html|title=HOLLYWOOD EMBRACES THE DIFFICULT NOVEL|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 22, 1981|access-date=March 19, 2024}}

{{main|Rhinestone (film)#Development and writing}}

In 1985, Nichols was preparing to direct The Longshot, having received the offer from Harvey Korman. After rehearsing with the actors in Los Angeles and making script suggestions, Nichols left the project as he was otherwise committed to directing Heartburn with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Instead, he agreed to serve as executive producer on the film.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/67737|title=AFI|Catalog - The Longshot|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

{{main|O.C. and Stiggs#Production}}

In 1988, it was reported that Paramount Pictures optioned Terrence McNally's two-character play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune for Nichols to direct as a film. At the time, Dianne Wiest and Richard Dreyfuss were likely to star under Nichols' direction, but all three would eventually depart from the production. The film, which debuted in 1991, instead starred Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino, and was directed by Garry Marshall.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58890|title=AFI|Catalog - Frankie and Johnny|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

{{main|The Bonfire of the Vanities (film)#Production}}

{{main|The Remains of the Day (film)#Production}}

In 1992,{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/dicaprio-horse-trading-monty-goes-legit-1117469657/|title=DiCaprio horse-trading; 'Monty' goes legit|magazine=Variety|date=April 9, 1998|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite magazine|last=Busch|first=Anita M.|url=https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/horses-rides-with-col-and-ua-99126919/|title='HORSES' RIDES WITH COL AND UA|magazine=Variety|date=June 12, 1995|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/col-corrals-ua-s-horses-1117434857/|title='Col corrals UA's 'Horses'|magazine=Variety|date=April 8, 1997|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/15/movies/mike-nichols-plans-a-career-finale.html|title=Mike Nichols Plans A Career Finale|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 15, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite magazine|last=Archerd|first=Army|url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/mancuso-nicholson-renew-ties-1117862224/|title=Mancuso, Nicholson renew ties|magazine=Variety|date=July 27, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}

{{main|A Simple Plan (film)#Development}}

In March 1993,

In July 1993,{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/dish-she-said-he-said-warner-bros-said-adios-108753/|title=Dish; She said, he said — Warner Bros. said adios|magazine=Variety|date=July 15, 1993|access-date=January 27, 2025}}

In 1994, United Artists was developing a film about the life of controversial British playwright Oscar Wilde that was to be produced and presumably directed by Nichols, with Alice Arlen as executive producer. David Hare wrote the script, and Liam Neeson was allegedly in discussions to play Wilde.{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/dish-dolgen-s-first-greenlight-is-the-shade-of-jade-120183/|title=Dish: Dolgen's first greenlight is the shade of 'Jade'|magazine=Variety|date=April 14, 1994|access-date=January 27, 2025}}

In an April 1999 profile for The New York Times, Nichols revealed that his next project was likely to be a remake of the 1949 black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets which was being written by Elaine May and set to star Robin Williams.{{cite news|last=Applebome|first=Peter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/25/movies/film-always-asking-what-is-this-really-about.html|title=FILM; Always Asking, What Is This Really About?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 25, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}} The following year, it was officially reported that Universal was moving toward a fall start for production on the Nichols-directed Kind Hearts and Coronets. Nichols had developed the script with May before they were officially given the greenlight.{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/u-nichols-take-kindly-to-hearts-redo-for-fall-1117775616/|title=U, Nichols take kindly to 'Hearts' redo for fall|magazine=Variety|date=January 26, 2000|access-date=March 18, 2024}} Will Smith, Connie Nielsen and Jada Pinkett Smith were also cast in the film.{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/kindheartsandcoronets.html|title=Coming Attractions - Kind Hearts and Coronets|publisher=IGN|date=August 8, 2000|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210143613/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/kindheartsandcoronets.html|archive-date=February 10, 2003|url-status=dead}}

In May 1999, it was reported in Variety that Nichols had been attached to direct Dumbstruck with John Leguizamo set to star in and produce the film for Universal Pictures. John Weidner and Stephen Susco wrote the script, which follows a mute performance artist.{{cite magazine|last=Carver|first=Benedict|url=https://variety.com/1999/more/news/leguizamo-bows-first-slate-1117502372/|title=Leguizamo bows first slate|magazine=Variety|date=May 21, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite magazine|last=Carver|first=Benedict|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/scribe-duo-gets-airtime-1117502630/|title=Scribe duo gets 'Airtime'|magazine=Variety|date=June 1, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}

In September 1999,{{cite magazine|last=Moerk|first=Christian|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/goldwyn-to-renovate-warners-handyman-1117756006/|title=Goldwyn to renovate Warners' 'Handyman'|magazine=Variety|date=September 27, 1999|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite web|author=Gould, Howard Michael|author-link=Howard Michael Gould|url=https://howardmichaelgould.com/diva/|title=DIVA|website=howardmichaelgould.com|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/alumni/learn/amherstreads/pastfeatures/2019-features/january-2019-last-looks-by-howard-michael-gould/bio|title=Last Looks by Howard Michael Gould '84|website=Amherst College|date=January 2019|access-date=January 27, 2025}}

Nichols and actress Natalie Portman considered doing a film about Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick, but decided to collaborate on a film version of Patrick Marber's play Closer instead, which was released in 2004.{{cite magazine|last=Stein|first=Joel|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995787,00.html|title=A Fantasy You Can Bring Home to Mother|magazine=Time|date=November 29, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306104923/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995787,00.html|archive-date=March 6, 2008}}

In July 2004, Nichols acquired the rights to direct and produce the film adaptation of Carl Hiaasen's novel Skinny Dip,{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|title=Nichols gets the 'Skinny'|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/nichols-gets-the-skinny-1117908354/|date=July 27, 2004|website=Variety|access-date=November 2, 2023}} but would later lose the rights and not get involved in other adaptation attempts.{{cite news|first=Lacey|last=Rose|title=HBO Developing Carl Hiaasen's 'Skinny Dip'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hbo-developing-carl-hiaasens-skinny-208109/|date=July 5, 2011|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 19, 2023}}{{cite news|author=Project Casting|title=The CW's TV Pilot 'Skinny Dip' Open Casting Call|url=https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/casting-calls-acting-auditions/the-cws-tv-pilot-skinny-dip-open-casting-call/|date=September 21, 2021|website=Project Casting|access-date=November 19, 2023}}

In September 2004, Nichols was in discussions to direct Julia Roberts in the rom-com Seven-Year Switch, with Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher producing for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon.{{cite news|author1=Michael Fleming|author2=Nicole LaPorte|title=Col makes a 'Switch'|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/features/col-makes-a-switch-1117911027/|date=September 27, 2004|website=Variety|access-date=November 2, 2023}}

In 2008, Nichols was set to direct a remake of the Akira Kurosawa film High and Low, with David Mamet to write the script and Scott Rudin to produce the film for Miramax.{{cite news|first=Anne|last=Thompson|title=Nichols 'High' on Kurosawa remake|url= https://variety.com/2008/film/news/nichols-high-on-kurosawa-remake-1117994841/ |date=October 28, 2008|website=Variety|access-date=November 2, 2023}} In 2010, Chris Rock was set to write a new screenplay for Nichols.{{cite news|author=Ti Alan Chase|title=Chris Rock to Adapt Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW for Mike Nichols|url=https://collider.com/chris-rock-to-adapt-akira-kurosawas-high-and-low-for-mike-nichols/|date=April 12, 2010|website=Collider|access-date=November 2, 2023}}

In 2009, Nichols was set to direct a film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's Deep Water for 20th Century Fox, with Joe Penhall writing the screenplay.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|title=Fox sets Mike Nichols for 'Deep Water'|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/fox-sets-mike-nichols-for-deep-water-1118007326/|date=August 16, 2009|website=Variety|access-date=November 2, 2023}} A 2022 adaptation of the same novel was eventually directed by Adrian Lyne.{{cite news|first=Zack|last=Sharf|title='Deep Water' Teaser Trailer: Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas' Erotic Thriller Debuts on Hulu in March|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/deep-water-trailer-ben-affleck-ana-de-arma-erotic-1235181185/|date=February 14, 2022|website=Variety|access-date=February 8, 2024}}

{{main|Hope Springs (2012 film)#Production}}

In 2013, Nichols was in talks to direct the film adaptation of Jonathan Tropper's novel One Last Thing Before I Go, with Tropper writing the screenplay, J. J. Abrams producing through Bad Robot and Paramount Pictures distributing.{{cite news|author1=Tatiana Siegel|author2=Borys Kit|title=Mike Nichols in Talks to Direct 'One Last Thing Before I Go'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mike-nichols-talks-one-last-443019/|date=April 23, 2013|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 2, 2023}} The project was likely shelved after Nichols death in November the following year.{{cite news|author=The Deadline Team|title=Oscar- & Tony-Winning Director Mike Nichols Dead At 83|url=https://deadline.com/2014/11/mike-nichols-dead-1201290137/|date=November 20, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=November 2, 2023}}

In 2014, Nichols was announced to direct the TV movie adaptation of Terrence McNally's play Master Class for HBO, with Meryl Streep set to star as Maria Callas.{{cite news|title=Mike Nichols to direct Meryl Streep in a HBO Film adaptation of MASTER CLASS, Terrence McNally's Tony award-winning play about Maria Callas.|url=https://twitter.com/HBOPR/status/487341697429295105|date=July 10, 2014|website=Twitter|access-date=November 2, 2023}}{{cite magazine|first=Eliana|last=Dockterman|title=Meryl Streep to Star in Master Class Movie on HBO|url=https://time.com/2974463/merryl-streep-master-class-movie-hbo/|date=July 10, 2014|magazine=Time|access-date=November 2, 2023}} Nichols was still working on the project at the time of his death.

• Mike Nichols on screen and stage

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{{Mike Nichols}}

Nichols, Mike