During his career, American film director David Fincher has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled or would see life under a different production team.

1980s Insomnia In 1988, the Los Angeles Times reported that Fincher would make his big-screen feature directorial debut with Insomnia, the origin story of Robbie Robertson, planned to film in New York City the following year. Steve de Jarnett was attached as scriptwriter and Martin Scorsese was to executive produce alongside Jon Taplan and Nick Wechsler. Then, in the early 1990s, Lawrence Wright came aboard to take a crack at telling the story. According to Robertson's manager, Jared Levine, Wright had written a few drafts, but Scorsese was uncomfortable with the project. "Robbie was like, 'You know what? I need to write the story for this to be done properly'," said Levine. Years later, Insomnia was posthumously published as a memoir by Robertson.

1990s Love Field

In April 1990, the Los Angeles Times reported that Fincher was set to make his feature debut with a film based on the stage play Love Field, about the man who shot Lee Harvey Oswald, later titled Ruby. However, Fincher withdrew from the project and was replaced by Scottish director John Mackenzie.

Madonna: Truth or Dare

Alek Keshishian revealed in an interview that Fincher had been considered to direct Madonna's music documentary Truth or Dare, having already directed three of her music videos. However, Fincher and Madonna would later have a falling out, and Keshishian was then attached as director.

The Avengers

After Alien 3, Fincher briefly considered directing the film adaptation based on the British espionage series The Avengers, which he envisioned as "a big, widescreen black-and-white version, kind of cool, a real mod sixties kind of thing". He also apparently wanted to cast Charles Dance as John Steed; however, Ralph Fiennes would ultimately end up playing the part in the eventual film, directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.

GoldenEye

Fincher claimed to be in discussions to direct a James Bond film "post-Timothy Dalton"; the first to star Pierce Brosnan, which would eventually become GoldenEye. "Believe me, they didn't want to hear from me. The people that own that franchise have a pretty good idea of what they think it is".

Blade

In an interview with MovieWeb, David S. Goyer revealed that Fincher was attached to direct the first comic book film adaptation of Blade at one point, and that he even developed the script with Goyer.

Fallen Angels (season 2)

Just before Seven got greenlit, Fincher had been set to direct an episode of the second season of Showtime's neo-noir anthology series Fallen Angels.

The Sky Is Falling In 1995, Fincher was in negotiations with TriStar Pictures to direct The Sky Is Falling from a spec script written by Howard Roth and Eric Warren Singer about two clerics on an archaeological dig who discover proof of God. The film would ultimately fail to obtain a greenlight.

The Crowded Room

After Seven, Fincher considered directing the long-in-development project The Crowded Room, with Brad Pitt starring in the role of Billy Milligan. The novel on which it was based, The Minds of Billy Milligan, was eventually adapted into a 2023 miniseries.

Chicago

Fincher was amongst several directors approached throughout the 1990s to direct a film version of Bob Fosse's Broadway musical Chicago, that would eventually be directed by Rob Marshall.

Rendezvous with Rama As early as July 1997, Fincher was attached as director for an adaptation of the Arthur C. Clarke book, with Morgan Freeman attached to star. Fincher stated in 2007 that he still planned to direct; but, by 2008, he stated that it was unlikely to be made as no script had been written.David Fincher’s Rendezvous With Rama is Not Happening Fincher reiterated his desire to still make the film in 2010, but it was still down to the matter of finding the right script. In an interview with Empire, in which Fincher was asked several questions by readers, he referred to the film as "a gigantic, expensive movie that didn't have any toys." In December 2021, it was announced Denis Villeneuve would direct the adaptation for Alcon Entertainment, with Freeman involved as producer.

The Night Watchman

In November 1997, while waiting for Brad Pitt's commitment to Fight Club, Fincher entered negotiations to direct The Night Watchman from a screenplay by James Ellroy for New Regency and Warner Bros. The film was later made as Street Kings in 2005.

The Black Dahlia

As early as 1998, Fincher had shown interest in developing James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia as a directing vehicle. Eventually, in the 2000s, he planned to adapt The Black Dahlia into a five-part HBO miniseries budgeted at $80 million that would star Tom Cruise. However, Brian De Palma ultimately directed a film version of the book in 2006.2 men, 1 obsession: the quest for justiceDavid Fincher & James Ellroy Plotting 1950s Noir Series For HBO In 2013, a graphic novel adaptation was published with Fincher credited for adapting the story.

The Mexican

After shooting was completed on Fight Club, Brad Pitt passed the script of The Mexican to Fincher, who wanted to direct the film but was too busy at the time to commit. Gore Verbinski got the job instead.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

In the late 1990s, Fincher pitched a darker, "creepy" vision for the first Harry Potter film installment, likening it to the 1987 film Withnail and I. Warner Bros. rejected it in favor of a more traditional, family-friendly approach; Chris Columbus was thus chosen instead, with the resulting film seeing release in 2001.

Spider-Man

In November 1999, Fincher was shortlisted by Columbia Pictures, as one of the potential directors of Spider-Man, a live-action adaptation of the Marvel Comics character. Fincher's pitch featured an older, experienced version of the titular character in his adult years and the post-adolescent portion of his life as a photographer and his crime-fighting double life as a vigilante, with a more grounded, character-driven and drama-oriented tone and direction. He also wanted the film to feature a ten-minute title sequence tackling Peter Parker's backstory and featuring Green Goblin killing Gwen Stacy. Fincher later said of his pitch: "I went in and told them what I might be interested in doing, and they hated it". Sam Raimi was chosen as director instead.David Fincher reveals the operatic title sequence for his Spider-Man movie that never was

2000s The Hire

In the early 2000s, Fincher was approached to direct The Hire, BMW's film showcasing its cars. He ended up not directing, but serving as an executive producer, and deciding the project "would work better as a series of short separate films directed by high profile directors."

Passengers In January 2000, Fincher was announced to direct the film Passengers, an adaptation of Robert Silverberg's short story from 1969, for USA Films. Michael London would produce and Greg Pruss, who previously worked with Fincher on Alien 3 as a conceptual artist, was in charge of adapting the story. The budget was set to be no more than $30 million. In 2002, Ain't It Cool News reported that Fincher was no longer directing but would still produce and was scavenging for a replacement.

Catch Me If You Can

In April 2000, Fincher was attached to direct Catch Me If You Can over the course of a few months, but dropped out in favor of Panic Room.

Squids Fincher, along with Art Linson, purchased the script written by David Ayer in April 2000, a coming-of-age story set on a nuclear submarine during the Cold War.‘U-571’s’ Ayer sells ‘Squids’ The film never developed further, and in 2012, Ayer spoke negatively about the script, stating that it "sucked".The Cop Whisperer

Pathfinder In May 2000, Fincher was reportedly attached to direct the action film Pathfinder, written by John Patrick Shanley, about a CIA agent who tries to stop his former cellmate from blowing up stolen plutonium.

They Fought Alone Fincher entered discussions to direct the film in August 2000 about Col. Wendell Fertig, a soldier serving in the Philippines during World War II. The screenplay was written by William Nicholson.Fincher soldiers on to direct ‘Alone’ Fincher reiterated his intent to direct in January 2009, revealing Robert Towne had been brought in to rewrite the screenplay, and Brad Pitt was wanted to portray Fretig.Fincher Talks 'Benjamin Button' and VFX

Seared In November 2000, Fincher was set to direct an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain's memoir Kitchen Confidential, which Art Linson would produce, and Brad Pitt reportedly interested to star, as well as Benicio del Toro. The project was set to film once Fincher completed Panic Room.Indelible cooking up ‘Seared’ for New LineThe Stax Report: Script Review of Seared The book would instead be adapted for television as Kitchen Confidential starring Bradley Cooper as fictional version of Bourdain, which aired for one season in 2005, airing just four episodes.Critic's Notebook: Before Bradley Cooper Got 'Burnt,' He Cooked in 'Kitchen Confidential'

Chemical Pink In March 2001, Fincher acquired the rights to Katie Arnoldi's novel that took place in the bodybuilding world, with Art Linson producing and Fight Club novelist Chuck Palahniuk writing the screenplay. Fincher eventually exited the project, with Jonas Åkerlund taking over as director. The project would become dormant.

Hard Boiled In August 2001, Fincher was announced as directing an adaptation of Frank Miller's three issue comic book series that would see Nicolas Cage star in the lead role.Frank Miller’s ‘Hard Boiled’ Is Getting a Movie and Tom Hiddleston May Star

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

In an interview with BBC, George Clooney revealed that Fincher was one of many directors considered to direct the film.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

In December 2001, Walden Media announced that they had acquired the film rights to all seven of The Chronicles of Narnia children's fantasy novels. Philip Anschutz was soon approached by several filmmaker candidates, including Fincher, who wanted to direct the first film in the series. By March 2002, Andrew Adamson was selected as director of the adaptation.

Mission: Impossible III

In April 2002, Fincher was sought out by Tom Cruise to serve as director for the third instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Fincher was looking to make the film "really violent". However he would eventually pull out of the film, and said in a 2008 MTV interview: "I think the problem with third movies is the people who are financing them are experts on how they should be made and what they should be. At that point, when you own a franchise like that, you want to get rid of any extraneous opinions. I'm not the kind of person who says, "Let's see the last two, I see what you're going for." You'll never hear me say, "Whatever is easiest for you."

The Reincarnation of Peter Proud Fincher was reported to be in negotiations to direct a second adaptation of the 1974 novel for Paramount Pictures in May 2002. He officially became attached to direct in November 2009, with the remake rights now under Columbia Pictures. Andrew Kevin Walker was attached to write the screenplay, reuniting with Fincher for the first time since Seven. A different remake/adaptation was announced in 2021 as the first project under a new deal between Village Roadshow Pictures and David S. Goyer's Phantom Four Films to produce feature films. Sean Durkin is writing and directing the film.

Stay

Fincher was reported to be directing David Benioff's spec-script in 2002, in a column written about Benioff. The film was eventually directed by Marc Forster and released in 2005.

Lords of Dogtown