Terry Zwigoff's unrealized projects

According to Vice, Zwigoff and Robert Crumb were once hired by the Mitchell brothers to write a pornographic film based on one of Crumb's comics about a female sasquatch who is dragged from the wild into the culturally bankrupt world of modern America.{{cite magazine|last=Koester|first=Megan|title=Terry Zwigoff Doesn't Like Doing Interviews|date=May 17, 2017|magazine=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/terry-zwigoff-doesnt-like-doing-interviews/|access-date=March 10, 2024}} Their unproduced and ultimately non-pornographic screenplay, titled Sassy, was written in 1988.

In 1997, it was reported in Variety that Zwigoff was attached to direct Stuart, a film co-written by Dave Sheridan with Larry Doyle, based on a hapless character Sheridan created in a short film years prior. The plot follows a Texan who lives in a trailer and becomes obsessed with a female acquaintance of his after she casually mentions something about love.{{cite magazine|last=Archer|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/norton-taking-leap-of-faith-as-director-1116674541/|title=Norton taking leap of 'Faith' as director|magazine=Variety|date=October 23, 1997|access-date=August 18, 2024}}

{{main|Elf (film)}}

Zwigoff turned down the offer to direct Elf (2003) in favor of directing Bad Santa (2003).{{cite web|last=Sherlock|first=Ben|title=You Sit On A Throne Of Lies: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Elf|date=August 4, 2020|website=Screen Rant|url=https://screenrant.com/elf-behind-scenes-facts-will-ferrell-christmas-movie/#macy-s-refused-to-be-the-store-in-the-movie-because-the-santa-is-revealed-to-be-fake|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Udovitch|first=Mim|title=FILM Terry Zwigoff's Santa: He's Making a List And Checking His Escape Routes Twice|date=November 30, 2003|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/30/movies/film-terry-zwigoff-s-santa-he-s-making-list-checking-his-escape-routes-twice.html|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

In July 2006, it was reported that Zwigoff was to write and direct a film adaptation of the French novel Happy Days by Laurent Graff. Jerry Stahl was to have co-written the script with Zwigoff and the film was to have been produced by Johnny Depp via Infinitum Nihil and Graham King via Initial Entertainment Group.{{cite magazine|last=Green|first=Willow|title=Depp And Zwigoff Have Happy Days|date=July 11, 2006|magazine=Empire|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/depp-zwigoff-happy-days/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Johnny Depp Hires Terry Zwigoff To Write and Direct Happy Days|date=July 10, 2006|website=MovieWeb|url=https://movieweb.com/johnny-depp-hires-terry-zwigoff-to-write-and-direct-happy-days/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

In September 2007, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct and co-write with Daniel Clowes a film titled The $40,000 Man for New Line Cinema.{{cite magazine|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Zwigoff the 'Man' for New Line pic|date=September 14, 2007|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/zwigoff-man-new-line-pic-150129/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Zwigoff Making $40,000 Man|date=September 14, 2007|website=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/14/zwigoff-making-40000-man?amp=1|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

In 2008, Zwigoff attempted to make a proposed series called King's Court for HBO, which would have starred Tony Cox in the lead as a donut shop owner with big dreams. "The idea was a largely black cast in an area of L.A. that was in an apartment complex," Zwigoff said. "It wasn't about race, but it was about class. I thought it was really funny and [Cox] loved it. [...] I sent it to HBO and they said 'I don't know, we already have a Black show'."{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs42.com/digital-exclusive/years-before-bad-santa-launched-him-into-stardom-tony-cox-was-a-boy-from-alabama-who-kept-the-faith/|title=Years before 'Bad Santa' launched him into stardom, Tony Cox was a boy from Alabama who kept the faith|website=CBS 42|date=December 22, 2023|access-date=August 18, 2024}}

In a 2012 interview with IndieWire, Zwigoff claimed he attempted to write and direct a film adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel Maximum Bob.{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Drew|title=Terry Zwigoff Talks Battling Over 'Bad Santa,' His Preferred Director's Cut & Much More In Candid Interview|date=December 20, 2012|website=IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/terry-zwigoff-talks-battling-over-bad-santa-his-preferred-directors-cut-much-more-in-candid-interview-250073/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

In June 2013, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct Fred Armisen in a film he co-wrote with Melissa Axelrod titled Justice for Al.{{cite web|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title='SNL's' Fred Armisen to Star in Comedy From 'Bad Santa' Director Terry Zwigoff (Exclusive)|date=June 13, 2013|website=TheWrap|url=https://www.thewrap.com/snls-fred-armisen-star-comedy-bad-santa-director-terry-zwigoff-exclusive-97306/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Fred Armisen Will Find 'Justice For Al' In Next Film From 'Bad Santa' & 'Ghost World' Director Terry Zwigoff|date=June 14, 2013|website=IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/fred-armisen-will-find-justice-for-al-in-next-film-from-bad-santa-ghost-world-director-terry-zwigoff-96975/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

In July 2013, it was reported that Zwigoff was to direct a film he co-wrote with Melissa Axelrod titled Lost Melody with Edward R. Pressman producing and Nicolas Cage slated to star.{{cite web|last=Eames|first=Tom|title=Nicolas Cage to fall for prostitute in new indie movie 'Lost Melody'|date=July 4, 2013|website=Digital Spy|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a495591/nicolas-cage-to-fall-for-prostitute-in-new-indie-movie-lost-melody/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Max|title=Nic Cage Goes Indie for Lost Melody|date=July 2, 2013|website=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/02/nic-cage-goes-indie-for-lost-melody?amp=1|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Nicolas Cage Teaming With Terry Zwigoff, Ed Pressman for 'Lost Melody' (Exclusive)|date=July 1, 2013|website=TheWrap|url=https://www.thewrap.com/nicolas-cage-terry-zwigoff-teaming-ed-pressman-lost-melody-exclusive-100926/|accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

Zwigoff confirmed in a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair that he attempted to make Lem Dobbs’ unproduced script titled Edward Ford into a film with Michael Shannon slated to star. According to Zwigoff, the film was never made because "the money fell through."

In the 2020s, Zwigoff was reportedly developing a series with writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. He expressed interest in casting Tony Cox for a role if greenlit for production.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Rob|url=https://captimes.com/entertainment/screens/uw-madison-grad-terry-zwigoff-is-as-delightfully-acerbic-as-his-movies/article_478e6ad0-8236-11ee-a84f-b3a71eebd8a5.html|title=UW-Madison grad Terry Zwigoff is as delightfully acerbic as his movies|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=November 13, 2023|access-date=August 18, 2024}}

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Zwigoff, Terry