During his career, American film director and producer Michael Bay has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage. Some of these projects fell into development hell or were officially cancelled, while others were taken over and completed by other filmmakers.
1990s Speed
Planet of the Apes remake
Saving Private Ryan
Superman Lives In 1998, Bay was reportedly among the many directors who were sought after to replace Tim Burton as director of Superman Lives, but he turned down the offer.
Quantico TV pilot Also in 1998, it was reported that, under his new development deal at Walt Disney Studios, Bay's company would be developing the action drama series Quantico, about the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was set to executive produce and potentially direct the pilot episode, which was scripted by Dario Scardapane. In 2000, Quantico was expected to be Bay's next project as director, and was planned to be made for Twentieth TV and FBC, though nothing came of it.
Phone Booth
In early 1999, Larry Cohen's thriller script of Phone Booth was initially set up for Bay to direct at Fox 2000. At the time, Will Smith was attached to star in the main role. Though Cohen had told Variety that Bay departed because he wanted to move the drama from its single phone booth location, the director would later deny it. "Will and I were ready to go, taking $500,000 each and backend, but we wanted Fox to put more money in the script to make the words better and the studio wouldn't", said Bay. "Every actor loved the idea, but if the words weren't there, that film wouldn't work". Phone Booth was eventually made with Joel Schumacher directing and Colin Farrell starring.
Africa In June 1999, it was reported that Bay was nearing a deal to direct Africa, an epic written by Eric Roth about renowned archaeologist turned wildlife preservationist Richard Leakey. It was set up by Peters Entertainment at Columbia Pictures. Bay had also signed on to direct Pearl Harbor, then under the title Tennessee, and it was expected that either project could be his next film. However, in October the following year, Bay stated that he was dubious about taking on directing a film set in a foreign country: "After tourists were hacked to death in Rwanda, my girlfriend said no way. I don't want to rush into another big movie right now". In 2014, Angelina Jolie had become attached to direct Roth's script as her next film.
2000s The Gory Details In April 2000, Touchstone Pictures had purchased an idea for a black comedy entitled The Gory Details to be produced by Bay through his Disney-based company Bay Films and set to be written by Topper Lilien and Carroll Cartwright. The project reportedly revolved around the morbid world of crime scene cleanup. Though it had been said by October that Bay was potentially eyeing Gory Details as a directing vehicle, Variety estimated that it was unlikely he would take on another feature at the time due to a then-looming Screen Actors Guild strike.
Untitled kidnapping thriller film In October 2000, Variety reported that Bay's company had acquired an untitled thriller that he and producer Jennifer Klein would develop as his next directing project. The script by Stuart Alexander was about the kidnapping of a high-powered attorney's wife; the ransom for her safe release being his suicide.
King Arthur As early as December 2000, Bay was reportedly originally engaged to direct David Franzoni's script of King Arthur, but left the project due to budget concerns. Bay had allegedly developed the project for over five years.
The Rock sequel On the Criterion audio commentary track for the 2001 DVD of The Rock, Bay stated that he had an idea for a follow-up/sequel that would pick up where the first film left off.
I Am Legend
Do Not Go Gentle In August 2003, Bay was attached to direct the Revolution Studios adventure drama Do Not Go Gentle, about a scientist at the Smithsonian who realizes his lifelong dream of space travel. Neil Tolkin was set to rewrite the script, which was originally written in 1995 by David and Peter Griffiths. The project had previously been set up at Warner Bros., with Sean Connery attached to star and Rob Cohen attached to direct. In December 2003, it was announced that Robert Schenkkan would rewrite the script. There have been no further announcements since.
2012: The War for Souls On 27 July 2007, it was announced that Bay would direct Warner Bros' film adaptation of Whitley Strieber's 2012: The War for Souls, from a script by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. There have been no further announcements since.
Bad Boys for Life
2010s Ghost Recon On 11 June 2013, Warner Bros and Platinum Dunes will be making the film and Michael Bay will produce and possibly direct the film, written by Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia.'Y: The Last Man' Scribes to Pen 'Ghost Recon' Movie for Ubisoft, Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE)
Untitled underwater adventure film On 17 March 2014, it was announced that Bay would produce and possibly direct Tom Wheeler and Robbie Thompson's underwater adventure film through Platinum Dunes, along with Wheeler. There have been no further announcements since.
Time Salvager In June 2015, it was announced that Bay would direct the film adaptation of Wesley Chu's first Time Salvager book, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian producing. On 18 September 2017, Zak Olkewicz was hired to write the script. There have been no further announcements since.
Hunting El Chapo In March 2017, it was reported that Bay was in talks to possibly direct or produce an adaptation of Hunting El Chapo: The Thrilling Inside Story of The American Lawman Who Captured The World's Most-Wanted Drug Lord for Sony.
Lobo In February 2018, DC Films was eyeing Michael Bay to direct the film inspired by the success of Tim Miller's Deadpool film, but only if Bay agreed to direct within a budget under $200 million. There have been no further announcements since.
Robopocalypse On March 7, 2018, Bay signed on to replace Steven Spielberg as the director of the Robopocalypse film adaptation.
Black Five In August 2019, Bay signed to direct the action film Black Five for Sony Pictures. However, the film, which was set to begin production in 2020, was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bay subsequently moved on to direct Ambulance.
2020s Untitled action drama series In February 2023, Bay was hired to direct and executive produce an untitled action drama bounty hunter series for A&E Studios and Amazon Studios.
Barbaric TV series On July 11, 2024, it was reported that Bay was in talks to direct Barbaric, an acerbic fantasy series for Netflix based on the best-selling Vault Comics title, with Sheldon Turner writing and executive producing the series, Sam Claflin attached to star and Patrick Stewart set for a voice performance; Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson would produce through A&E Studios in collaboration with Vault Comics' F.J. DeSanto and Damian Wassel, Claflin, Luke Carroll & Michael Stevenson's Cusp Films, and Jennifer Klein & Turner's 100% Productions.
Fast and Loose On October 7, 2024, Bay was set to direct Will Smith in the film Fast and Loose, with Chris Bremner and Eric Pearson writing the screenplay. By August 7, 2025, Bay had departed from the production over creative differences with Smith.
OutRun On April 21, 2025, it was announced that Michael Bay would direct and co-produce an adaptation of Out Run for Universal Pictures and Sega Sammy Group with Sydney Sweeney also set to co-produce the film.
Producer only The Changeling remake In October 2006, a remake of The Changeling was announced as a co-production between film companies Rogue Pictures and Platinum Dunes. There have been no further announcements since.
Near Dark remake In October 2006, a remake of Near Dark was announced as a co-production between film companies Rogue Pictures and Platinum Dunes. On January 29, 2008, Samuel Bayer was hired to direct the remake. In December 2008, Platinum Dunes producer Bradley Fuller stated that the project had been put on hold due to similarities in conception with Twilight, a film which also contained a romance between human and vampire characters.
Fiasco Heights On 8 April 2007, it was announced that Bay, Chris Bender and JC Spink would produce the thriller Fiasco Heights, from a script by Kyle Ward through Platinum Dunes. There have been no further announcements since.
The Birds remake In 2008, it was announced that Bay would produce a remake of The Birds through Platinum Dunes with Martin Campbell directing, Billy Ray and Peter Craig writing the screenplay, with Naomi Watts starring as Melanie Daniels for Universal Pictures. On 28 February 2014, Diederik Van Rooijen was set to direct the remake, with Jonathan Herman writing the script. However, the movie was revived as a BBC miniseries without Platinum Dunes.
Friday the 13th sequel
The Butcherhouse Chronicles On 6 October 2009, it was announced that Bay would produce Stephen Susco's thriller The Butcherhouse Chronicles through Platinum Dunes. There have been no further announcements since.
Property of the State On 6 October 2009, it was announced that Bay would produce Howard Franklin's crime drama Property of the State through Platinum Dunes. There have been no further announcements since.
Existence 2.0 On 16 March 2010, Bay was set to produce the adaptation of Nick Spencer and illustrator Ronald Salas' comic book series Existence 2.0 through his Platinum Dunes company, with Miles Millar and Alfred Gough to write the screenplay and Paramount Pictures distributing the movie. There have been no further announcements since.
The Monster Squad remake On 18 March 2010, it was announced that Bay and Platinum Dunes would produce a remake of Fred Dekker's monster comedy film The Monster Squad from a script by Mark Gunn & Brian Gunn, with Rob Cohen set to direct the film for Paramount Pictures. In 2014, Platinum Dunes producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form confirmed that the remake was no longer happening.
Heatseekers On 27 April 2010, it was announced that Bay and Platinum Dunes would produce former attorney George Mahaffey's screenplay Heatseekers, an action film about a young ex-military pilot who infiltrates a gang of aerial "pirates" working out of Bangkok and takes part in an elaborate tower heist using powered gliders and parachutes for Paramount Pictures. On 15 January 2013, Timur Bekmambetov was set to direct and F. Scott Frazier will rewrite the script. There have been no further announcements since.
Gideon's Sword On 24 May 2010, it was announced that Bay and Platinum Dunes would produce the film adaptation of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's novel Gideon's Sword for Paramount. On 28 September 2010, Chap Taylor was hired to write the script. There have been no further announcements since.
Confidential Alien On 27 July 2010, it was announced that Bay would produce the sci-fi film Confidential Alien Project through Platinum Dunes, with Bobby Glickert writing and directing the film for Paramount Pictures. There have been no further announcements since.
I Am Number Four sequel In February 2011, screenwriter Marti Noxon told Collider that plans for an imminent I Am Number Four sequel were shelved due to the disappointing performance of the first installment at the box office.
In 2013, director D. J. Caruso was asked if there are any possibilities that The Power of Six will get a movie adaptation. He replied: "There's been some talk in the past couple of months about trying to do something because there is this audience appetite out there [...]. Most of the people on Twitter that contact me from all over the world ask, "Where's the next movie?" I think DreamWorks is getting those too so it'll be interesting. I don't know if I'd be involved, but I know they're talking about it".
Untitled Taylor Lautner film