During his extensive career, American filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

1990s

Swordfish

On November 19, 1995, Sonnenfeld was developing Swordfish, a film based on David McClintock's nonfiction book, with Zachary Feuer executive producing the movie with Sonnenfeld, Janet Jacobson & Amy Bedek for Touchstone Pictures. but until March 18, 1998, Sonnenfeld was still attached to produce Stephen Schiff’s draft of Swordfish, but didn't finalized the deal to direct, which was made with Dominic Sena directing the 2001 film.

Another Man's Poison remake On November 19, 1995, Sonnenfeld was developing a remake of Irving Rapper’s film Another Man's Poison, with Zachary Feuer executive producing the movie with Sonnenfeld, Robert Chartoff & Lynn Hendee for Touchstone Pictures.

Mercury Rising fka Simple Simon

By December 11, 1996, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Ryne Douglas Pearson's novel Simple Simon, a thriller about an FBI agent on the run protecting an autistic boy, with Larry Konner and Mark Rosenthal writing the screenplay, Nicolas Cage, Bruce Willis, and George Clooney interested in starring, Brian Grazer producing through Imagine Entertainment in collaboration with Joseph M. Singer Entertainment, and Universal Pictures was handling distribution, until Sonnenfeld moved on to Men in Black and Harold Becker directed Willis entitled Mercury Rising.

Vespers film By March 9, 1998, Sonnenfeld was going to produce the feature film adaptation of Jeff Rovin's novel Vespers through his Sonnenfeld/Josephson company and Touchstone Pictures handling distribution.

Wild About Harry By April 28, 1998, Sonnenfeld was set to produce Wild About Harry, a romance spec script written by clothing designer Isaac Mizrahi, with Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Touchstone Pictures was handling distribution.

Power and Grace

By August 14, 1998, Sonnenfeld was in talks to direct Power and Grace, a biopic about Muhammad Ali starring Will Smith, with Peters Entertainment producing and Columbia Pictures was handling distribution, which eventually was made with Michael Mann directing Smith as Ali under the title Ali.

Kill Van Kull By October 5, 1998, Sonnenfeld was set to produce and possibly direct Kill Van Kull, a heist spec script written by Richard Regen, with Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Touchstone Pictures was handling distribution.

The Big Mocambo By January 4, 1999, Sonnenfeld was set to produce and direct The Big Mocambo, a live-action/animated romantic-comedy script written by Peter Seaman and Jeffrey Price, who will also executive produce the movie with Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, plus Walt Disney Pictures and Warner Bros. will co-finance, co-produce, & co-handle the film's distribution.

Harvey remake By April 6, 1999, Sonnenfeld was interested in producing & directing a remake of Harvey, a comedy based on the play by Mary Chase, and Walt Disney Pictures was handling distribution, but lost a bidding war to Miramax.

White Noise (2022)

By October 4, 1999, Sonnenfeld was attached to direct the feature film adaptation of Don DeLillo’s black comedy novel White Noise, with a writer's search starting, Sonnenfeld and Barry Josephson producing the film through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions along with Nina Jacobson, and Walt Disney Pictures was handling distribution, until July 28, 2004, Sonnenfeld was still attached to direct and produce the adaptation, but in collaboration with Cherry Road Films and Scott Rudin after Disney didn't renew the rights. until Michael Almereyda was set to write and direct the film adaptation, & Noah Baumbach ultimately made a film adaptation in 2022.

2000s

The Ugly Truth

In the early 2000s, Sonnenfeld was in talks to direct Nicole Eastman's screenplay The Ugly Truth, for Warner Bros., until Robert Luketic replaced Sonnenfeld and The Ugly Truth was released in 2009 by Columbia Pictures.

Dummy By June 30, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce Dummy, a road comedy script written by Marc Hyam. Bonnie and Terry Turner were also planned to produce the movie with Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Walt Disney Pictures was planned to finance, produce, and handle the film's distribution.

The Killer By June 30, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce The Killer, with Phil Tag rewriting John Hamburg's screenplay, Tim Allen was set to star, Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Walt Disney Pictures financing, producing, and handling the film's distribution.

The Foolish Club By June 30, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce The Foolish Club, with Jim Miller writing the screenplay about the start of Lamar Hunt's football career, Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Walt Disney Pictures will finance, produce, & handle the film's distribution.

The Tin Man By June 30, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce The Tin Man, with Anthony Bagarozzi writing the Los Angeles noir thriller screenplay, John Frankenheimer was set to direct, Shane Black was set to executive produce the movie alongside Barry Josephson through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions, and Walt Disney Pictures will finance, produce, & handle the film's distribution.

Whispers and Bedlam By June 30, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce Whispers and Bedlam, with Gerald Di Pego writing the screenplay, Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions in collaboration with Brillstein-Grey and Howard Rosenman, and Walt Disney Pictures will finance, produce, & handle the film's distribution.

Twisted By November 14, 2000, Sonnenfeld was set to produce Richard Regen's heist script Twisted, with George Armitage set to direct, Barry Josephson producing through Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions in collaboration with Tom Jacobson & Jim Weda's Miracle Entertainment.

Moist feature film By August 21, 2001, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the feature film adaptation of Mark Haskell Smith’s dark comedy novel Moist, with Smith writing the screenplay, Sonnenfeld producing with Dan Jinks & Bruce Cohen, and DreamWorks Pictures handling film distribution.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events feature film

By June 11, 2002, Sonnenfeld was attached to direct the feature film adaptation of Daniel Handler’s A Series of Unfortunate Events children's book series, with Handler writing the screenplay, Scott Rudin producing the film along with Nickelodeon Movies then-president Albie Hecht, and Paramount Pictures was handling distribution, until February 19, 2003, when Brad Silberling replaced Sonnenfeld. Sonnenfeld would executive produce and direct episodes of the television series adaptation for Netflix.

Fun With Dick and Jane remake

On June 10, 2003, Sonnenfeld was hired to direct the remake of Fun with Dick and Jane, with Peter Tolan and Judd Apatow involved with screenwriting, Jim Carrey cast as Dick, Brian Grazer producing through Imagine Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures handling film distribution, until that October, Dean Parisot replaced Sonnenfeld.

The Heartbreak Kid remake

On April 20, 2004, Sonnenfeld was offered to direct the remake of The Heartbreak Kid, but turned it down, leading to the Farrelly brothers accepting the offer on May 31, 2005.

A New Leaf On April 20, 2004, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the A New Leaf, with Joan Cusack and Kevin Kline set to star for Paramount Pictures.

Angry White Men On April 20, 2004, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the Angry White Men for Warner Bros.

The Know-It-All feature film On September 9, 2004, Sonnenfeld was set to direct and produce the feature film adaptation of A. J. Jacobs’ novel The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, with Jacobs writing the screenplay, with Ted Field producing through Radar Pictures.

Hackett TV series On February 22, 2007, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the pilot episode of the comedy series Hackett, with Sony Pictures Television and 25 C Prods. producing the series and FOX set to broadcast the series. with Donal Logue, Christian Hoff, Rachel Boston, and Morgan Murphy cast in the series.

The Box On May 11, 2007, Sonnenfeld was in talks to direct The Box, Evan Spiliotopoulos supernatural action-adventure screenplay about finding Pandora's Box in modern day, Richard Lewis producing through Southpaw Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox handling film distribution.

Kingdom TV series On July 17, 2007, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the pilot episode of Chad Hodge’s fantasy drama series Kingdom, with Sony Pictures Television producing the series and CBS set to broadcast the series. On April 1, 2008, CBS passed on the series, with Sony Pictures Television still committed to developing the series for another channel with Sonnenfeld directing & executive producing, Hodge executive producing, and Tony Jordan rewriting the series.

untitled Lukas Reiter legal thriller TV series On August 7, 2007, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the pilot episode of Lukas Reiter’s legal thriller series, with Universal Media Studios producing the hour-long series and NBC set to broadcast the series, with Alan Tudyk, Andrew Lincoln, Kurtwood Smith and Frankie Faison cast in the series.

American Suburban Shootout TV series adaptation In March 2008, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the pilot episode of the American adaptation of the British comedy series Suburban Shootout, with Michelle Ashford writing the series, and Sonnenfeld producing the series through Right Coast Film Co. in collaboration with Laurence Bowen and Philip Clarke's Feelgood Fiction & Ashford's Round Two Productions, and HBO set to broadcast the series.

Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30 TV series On June 25, 2008, Sonnenfeld was set to direct the television series adaptation of David Katz's novel Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30, with Katz and Esquire editor at large A.J. Jacobs writing the series, and Jay Scherick and David Ronn attached as supervising producers, and in November that same year, CBS was involved with the series development with Al Higgins' set to be the showrunner of the series, and Sonnenfeld producing with the Tannenbaum Company and Sony Pictures Television.

Jeff Rake's supernatural legal drama TV series On June 25, 2008, Sonnenfeld was set to direct Jeff Rake's supernatural legal drama TV series, with Sony Pictures Television producing with Sonnenfeld.

Bronwyn and Clyde In October 2008, Sonnenfeld was in talks and/or set to direct Tom Vaughan and Kristy Dobkin's romantic crime-comedy screenplay “Bronwyn and Clyde,” with Jim Kohlberg, Neil Kaplan, Chris Uettwiller and Dolly Hall producing the film through Essential Pictures.

Funny in Farsi TV series On November 30, 2008, Sonnenfeld was set to executive produce the television series adaptation of Firoozeh Dumas’ memoir Funny in Farsi, as well as direct the pilot episode, with Jeffrey Hoades and Nastaran Dibai writing the series and ABC set to broadcast the series.

The How-To Guide for Saving the World By December 17, 2008, Sonnenfeld was set to direct and produce “The How-To Guide for Saving the World,” BenDavid Grabinski's sci-fi action comedy, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer handling film distribution, which Grabinski revealed that Tom Cruise wanted to play a side character in the movie, until MGM filed for bankruptcy in 2010 led to the movie's cancelation.

American Scandal Makers remake