This is a list of unmade and unreleased projects by Image Comics. Some of these productions were, or still are, in development hell. Projects that have not provided significant production announcements within at least a year, would be considered in development limbo until further announcements are released. The following include films, television shows, and video games, whether as live-action or animated productions.
Live action films Madman film According to Mike Allred, he was first offered the chance to sell the film rights to Madman in 1992 (he has not said who made the offer, only that he declined). Since 1998, film-maker Robert Rodriguez has owned the film rights to Madman. Both he and Allred have given numerous signals as to the start of production over the years, but with no result. Although both have been occupied with other projects (Allred was instrumental in connecting Rodriguez with Frank Miller, leading to the production of Sin City), both have been eager to see this film made. Robin Williams was mentioned as being under consideration for the role of Dr. Boiffard before his death.
At the 2006 WonderCon in San Francisco, Allred announced that Madman the Movie was in pre-production and hoped to begin filming before the end of the year. He teased fans in attendance by saying that the titular role had already been cast, "but I can't tell you who it is yet.... When we announce it, you're gonna be like 'What?', then you'll think about it for a second and see that it's perfect". In 2015, Allred indicated that the rights to Madman had reverted to him, and in September 2019 has stated that he prefers to focus on comics rather than film or television adaptations for the time being.
Prophet film In 1995, TriStar Pictures acquired the film rights to Prophet. A live-action film was planned with Rob Liefeld as a producer, but the project did not proceed beyond pre-production. In 2018, Studio 8 acquired the film rights to Prophet. In May 2020, It was announced that Marc Guggenheim will write the film's script. On October 7, 2021, it was announced that Jake Gyllenhaal would star in the titular role with Sam Hargrave directing. On October 21, 2022, it was revealed that Kurt Johnstad will write a new version of the script.
TMNT 4: The Next Mutation/The Foot Walks Again Kevin Eastman was working on a fourth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film between 1995 and 1997 titled TMNT 4: The Next Mutation or TMNT 4: The Foot Walks Again. In 2012, Heritage Auctions published concept arts showing a fifth turtle named Kirby, but also featured are Fang, Shredder, Spyder, Nano Spyder, Super Shredder, Casey, Talbot, Lawson, Bugman and "Evil April". Peter Laird showed some concept art of the Turtles and Splinter on his blog. The main concept behind the film will have the turtles undergo a second mutation due to the mutagen in the heroes' bloodstream beginning to change with age and giving them new abilities and new problems. Also, the film would revolve around the return of the Shredder and proceeded to rebuild the Foot empire.
The Crow: 2037 The Crow: 2037 was a planned sequel to The Crow written and scheduled to be directed by Rob Zombie in the late 1990s, but was never made.
Powers film In 2001, Sony Pictures had optioned the comic series for a film production, commissioning a writers room. After development seemed to have stalled, Sony shifted focus in creating a TV show based on the comic instead.
Spawn 2 A sequel, tentatively titled Spawn 2, has been in development hell since 1998. Producer Don Murphy maintained that he was part of the project in 2001. McFarlane stated that the film would have centered primarily on the detective characters Sam and Twitch, with Spawn only as a background character.
Battle Chasers film In March 2003, Twentieth Century Fox has optioned feature rights to the fantasy comic book series with Gil Netter attached to produce.
Astro City film In 2003, Ben Barenholtz, Jonathan Alpers and Kurt Busiek hoped to develop an Astro City movie, with Barenholtz as producer and Alpers as lead scripter, but the plans did not take off, whereupon Barenholtz subsequently took the project to Working Title Films. In July 2010, Working Title acquired the rights to make a live-action feature film adaptation of Astro City. Busiek was to write a script treatment, and also to executive-produce, along with Barenholtz and Alpers. Kurt Busiek revealed in May 2013 that Working Title's option had lapsed but he was in negotiation with another party. In March 2018, FremantleMedia North America announced to produce a live-action Astro City TV series with a pilot episode written by Busiek and Rick Alexander.
Scud: The Disposable Assassin film There have been two attempts to adapt Scud: The Disposable Assassin into a film and TV show. A live-action feature film was optioned by producer Oliver Stone, but the option lapsed in the early 2000s.
The Legend of Isis In 2004, The Legend of Isis was optioned for a major motion picture by Paramount Studios and Grammnet Productions, with screenwriter Ali Russell."Grammnet bows to power of 'Isis' pitch", Variety, 2004-09-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
Jinx film In 2004, Charlize Theron signed on to produce and star in a film adapted from Jinx for Universal Pictures.
The Darkness film In December 2004, Dimension Films paid an undisclosed six-figure sum to develop a film based on the comic, with a planned release for 2008. The film rights were later sold to the Pang brothers one year later. At Comic-Con 2009, Top Cow president Matt Hawkins revealed that a live-action The Darkness film was in development, with Scott Stuber Productions attached as the producer for the project. In 2012, Len Wiseman signed on to produce the film.
Lions, Tigers and Bears film The comic book series Lions, Tigers and Bears was optioned for film in the fall of 2005 by Union Entertainment for six months, but the company closed their doors before a movie could be undertaken. In 2009, Paramount optioned the comic series, with a screenplay by Joey Aucoin and Lorenzo di Bonaventura set to produce. The film was to be live action, with "heavy doses" of CGI animation.
Hack/Slash film The possibility of Hack/Slash being made into a live-action film by Rogue Pictures was discussed by director Todd Lincoln, writer Martin Schenk, series creator Tim Seeley, and others at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con, to be released in 2008. In 2012, Marcus Nispel, who directed Conan the Barbarian remake, was revealed to have agreed to helm the film for Relativity and Rogue. In October 2015, Relativity announced that the series would instead be adapted into a television series and would be written by Skip Woods, who would serve as executive producer alongside Adrian Askarieh, who first optioned it in 2005. By 2018, there have been no updates on the prospective series, causing outlets such as /Film to assume that the series is in development hell.
Rex Mundi film There have been a number of rumours about a film version of Rex Mundi. In 2006, Jim Uhls was hired to write a script for Johnny Depp to star in and produce.King of the world of adaptation, Los Angeles Times, September 20, 2006 It is not known how much further production has progressed since then. Arvid Nelson confirmed the rumor of the film, and working with Johnny Depp. In December 2008, Nelson described that "the wheels of Hollywood grind slowly. ... We are at a second revision of the screenplay, so that's good. The way this works is there are periods of feverish activity, followed by lulls ... We're in one of the lulls now".<ref name="CBR 2008-12-18">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081219063819/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19223 Arvid Nelson on Rex Mundi'''s final arc], Comic Book Resources, December 18, 2008</ref> An interview with MTV's Splash Page in March 2009 confirmed the film was still progressing and searching for a director.Exclusive: Rex Mundi Studio Wants Someone 'Not Unlike Zack Snyder' To Direct Johnny Depp, MTV Splash Page, March 25, 2009
Occult Crimes Taskforce film The Occult Crimes Taskforce film rights were acquired by Dimension Films in September 2006.
Darkchylde film In August 2007, Randy Queen, creator of the comic book character Darkchylde, revealed to Newsarama that a movie is in the works. In an interview with Nicholas Yanes from scifipulse.net, Queen was asked and responded to a question about a film/television adaptation of Darkchylde: "Yanes: For years now there have been rumors of Darkchylde being turned into an animated series, miniseries for a cable network and movie. Are you able to comment on Darkchylde's potential future on in television and film? Any actresses you'd love to play Ariel? Queen: A movie makes so much sense it's ridiculous, and all I can say is that we are working on it. I know that's a frustrating answer for fans, but it's a frustrating process. It's probably best for me not to comment on actresses, so we will just all have to wait and see". Test footage from the set of Darkchylde emerged in July 2010 and on October 31, John Carpenter was revealed to direct the film. Since then, there has not been any further announcements, falling into development hell.
Luchadores 5 film In September 2007, a Luchadores 5 live action film was in the early stages of production.
Spawn remake In 2007, McFarlane Funding announced development of a new feature film adaptation of the character, titled Spawn, originally scheduled for release in 2008. During an interview on the Scott Ferrall show on Sirius radio, McFarlane said: "It's coming out no matter what. Even if I have to produce, direct and finance it myself, it's going to come out".
McFarlane began writing in August 2009 the screenplay for a new film based on the character, saying that "the story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years", that "the movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary", and that "the tone of this Spawn movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film The Departed". Michael Jai White said in July 2011 that he was interested in returning to the role, expressing his support for McFarlane's film. In 2013, Jamie Foxx was "aggressively pursuing" the Spawn reboot. In August, McFarlane discussed his progress with the script, stating that the film would be "more of a horror movie and a thriller movie, not a superhero one".
In February 2016, McFarlane completed the film's script. Blumhouse Productions confirmed their involvement with the film as of July 2017, while announcing that McFarlane had also signed on to direct the project. The film was expected to begin production by February 2018. In May 2018, Jamie Foxx was hired to portray the titular character, while in July Jeremy Renner was attached to portray, alongside Foxx, as Detective Twitch. In September, Greg Nicotero was hired to create the special effects for the film. The filming start date was delayed to June 2019. In November 2019, the film restarted development due to the financial success of the R-rated comic book film Joker. In December, McFarlane hired an additional writer to help polish the script, before presenting it to a major Hollywood studio. In March 2020, McFarlane revealed that filming was to begin before the end of the year.
Witchblade film A feature film adaptation of Witchblade was announced in 2008 and scheduled for a 2009 release, but was never produced. The film was to have been produced by Platinum Studios, Top Cow Productions, and Arclight Media, with Top Cow's Matt Hawkins and Marc Silvestri, Platinum's Rich Marincic, and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg serving as executive producers. Production was planned for September 2008, with filming to be done in Australia.
War Heroes film