Scott Cooper's unrealized projects
The following is a list of unproduced Scott Cooper projects in roughly chronological order. During his career, American film director Scott Cooper has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these productions fell in development hell or were cancelled.
2010s[edit]
The Hatfields and the McCoys[edit]
As claimed by Robert Duvall in April 2010, Cooper had been in talks with him and Brad Pitt for a film about the infamous Hatfield/McCoy family feud. Eric Roth wrote the script, and Cooper collaborator T-Bone Burnett was signed to compose the soundtrack.[1]
Brownsville Girl[edit]
In August 2010, it had been reported that Brad Pitt was offered a role in Cooper's Brownsville Girl, which was adapted by Jay Cocks from the song by Bob Dylan.[2]
Tales from the Gangster Squad[edit]
In October 2010, it was reported that Warner Bros. had considered Cooper among several potential candidates to direct the then-titled Tales from the Gangster Squad.[3] The film would later be released in 2013 under the title Gangster Squad, and directed by Ruben Fleischer.
Carancho remake[edit]
In November 2010, Cooper was reported to have signed on to direct an American remake of the Argentinian crime thriller Carancho as his next film, from a script by Aaron Stockard.[4]
Empire of the Summer Moon[edit]
In December 2010, it was reported that author Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana would be writing the Comanche drama Empire of the Summer Moon for Cooper to direct. Adapted from the S. C. Gwynne book of the same title, the film was due to be produced by Scott Free Productions.[5]
The Emperor's Children[edit]
On October 11, 2011, it was reported that Cooper would be directing a film of the Claire Messud novel The Emperor's Children, which had initially been set up as a directing vehicle for filmmaker Noah Baumbach the year prior. Working from Baumbach's adaptation, the film was predicted to beginning production in the spring of 2012.[6]
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit[edit]
On October 21, 2011, Deadline Hollywood announced that Cooper made deal to direct and possibly adapt The Man in the Rockefeller Suit, based on the nonfiction book about Christian Gerhartsreiter. Donald De Line was going to produce through De Line Pictures.[7]
Lie Down in Darkness[edit]
In August 2012, Kristen Stewart was in talks to star in Cooper's planned adaptation of the 1951 William Styron novel Lie Down in Darkness.[8] Cooper wrote the adapted script after completing Crazy Heart and had previously considered Jennifer Lawrence and Colin Firth for parts in the film.[9] "When you're casting a family, all the elements have to come together perfectly and delicately," Cooper said of the project in 2013. "I'm in the process of talking to a number of actors and actresses," he added, denying Stewart's involvement as definite.[10]
Creek[edit]
In February 2013, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the then-to-be-published novel by Michael Armour, The Road Home, a Depression-era drama about a small town murder. Cooper signed on the write the script, direct and co-produce with Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Leonardo DiCaprio, who was to star in the film.[11] In May, the title was confirmed by Deadline to be Creek.[12]
36th Precinct remake[edit]
Cooper signed up in May 2013 to rewrite and direct 36th Precinct, a remake of the French film from 2004. Cooper's update was reportedly set in the NYPD's anti-terrorism unit, as opposed to the original's Banditry Repression Brigade in France.[12][10]
The Stand[edit]
On August 23, 2013, Cooper replaced Ben Affleck as director of the Stephen King's The Stand.[13] In an interview with MTV held on November 20, Cooper teased the notion of Christian Bale taking on a role in the eventual feature.[14] Later that day, Cooper exited the film, allegedly caused from creative differences between him and the studio over the project's vision.[15] Reflecting on his departure from the adaptation in 2014, Cooper said "Yeah, I've moved on. It was a great process of connecting with Mr. King. It's a great piece, but it's a tough story to crack in one telling [...] if you're going to take something on like that, you want to make sure you get it right."[16]
Only the Brave[edit]
In 2014, Cooper was announced as the director of then-untitled feature film about the members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighter crew who perished in the Yarnell Hill wildfire.[17] Cooper eventually departed from the project, and its script was made into a film in 2017 by Joseph Kosinski.
American Wolf[edit]
In September 2015, TheWrap reported that Cooper was in talks to direct the film American Wolf, based on source material from Nate Blakeslee about the aftermath of a hunter who accidentally kills an endangered wolf in Yellowstone National Park.[18]
White Knight[edit]
In November 2015, Cooper was in talks to rewrite and direct the international thriller White Knight for Warner Bros., which was being set-up as a potential franchise in the vein of Jason Bourne and James Bond. Working from a script penned by Bill Dubuque, the story would have followed a disgraced secret service agent who takes up the job of protecting an arms dealer's family, putting him in the midst of a CIA manhunt.[19]
Hellhound on His Trail[edit]
In 2017, Cooper was announced to direct his scripted adaptation of Hellhound on His Trail, dealing with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and subsequent manhunt of his killer. Black Label Media stepped up to produce and finance the adaptation, with a spring 2018 target for the start of production.[20]
Valhalla[edit]
In 2019, John Lesher was reported to be producing a reteaming of Cooper and Christian Bale for a film called Valhalla, to be developed at Netflix.[21] The film's plot was not revealed, however in 2023, Cooper confirmed that he and Bale would eventually make the film.[22]
Over Tumbled Graves[edit]
Cooper also developed an adaptation of Jess Walter's noir novel Over Tumbled Graves for producer John Lesher and Cross Creek Pictures.[21]
2020s[edit]
A Head Full of Ghosts[edit]
In February 2020, Cooper had been set to direct Margaret Qualley in the psychological horror film A Head Full of Ghosts, based on the horror novel by Paul Tremblay.[23] Cooper since stated that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic intervened in the project's development, but that he was pleased with how his script turned out.[a]
Angels and Demons TV miniseries[edit]
In October 2020, Cooper was reported to make his television debut with Angels & Demons. Set up as a limited series at Black Bear Television with Cooper writing and directing each episode, the series was to have been based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article by Thomas French about the tragic murders of three women in Tampa Bay.[25]
Time Out remake[edit]
Speaking in 2023 about his collaboration and working relationship with Christian Bale, Cooper teased several potential projects him and the actor were considering pursuing, including a "reimagining" he had long wanted to make of Laurent Cantet's 2001 French film L'Emploi du temps (Translation: Time Out). Cooper then confirmed on an episode of Marc Maron's podcast that Bale was intent on starring.[22]
Notes[edit]
- ^ In 2023 Reddit AMA, when asked about the status of his adaptation of A Head Full of Ghosts, Cooper replied, "The pandemic intervened. I was very pleased with how the script turned out, and I love Margaret. She's a force."[24]
References[edit]
- ^ Bettinger, Brendan (April 28, 2010). "Brad Pitt and CRAZY HEART Director Scott Cooper Want to Tell the Tale of THE HATFIELDS AND THE MCCOYS". Collider. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (August 27, 2010). "Brad Pitt & Scott Cooper Linked To 'Brownsville Girl' Based On The Song By Bob Dylan, Adapted By Jay Cocks". ThePlaylist.net. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (October 6, 2010). "Lawrence, Greengrass, Cooper, Berlanti, and Campbell on Shortlist to Direct TALES FROM THE GANGSTER SQUAD". Collider. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 15, 2010). "'Crazy Heart' Helmer Scott Cooper In Remake Of Thriller 'Carancho'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 14, 2010). "'Brokeback' Duo Larry McMurtry And Diana Ossana Script Pair of Period Westerns". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (October 21, 2011). "Scott Cooper Takes Over Director's Chair On 'The Emperor's Children' From Noah Baumbach". IndieWire. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 21, 2011). "'Crazy Heart's Scott Cooper And Searchlight Reteam On 'Rockefeller' Conman Saga". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Brodesser-Akner, Claude (August 2, 2012). "Exclusive: Kristen Stewart Lands Lead in Lie Down in Darkness, No Word Yet on Snow White Sequel [UPDATE]". Vulture. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Kit, Borys (August 2, 2012). "Kristen Stewart Joins 'Lie Down in Darkness' as Search for Male Lead Heats". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Jagernauth, Kevin (May 6, 2013). "Scott Cooper To Remake '36th Precinct'; Kristen Stewart Won't Star In 'Lie Down In Darkness'". IndieWire. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 21, 2013). "Warner Bros Buys 'The Road Home' For Helmer Scott Cooper And Leonardo DiCaprio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 3, 2013). "Thunder Road To Remake French Pic '36th Precinct'; Scott Cooper To Write & Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 23, 2013). "Scott Cooper Replacing Ben Affleck As Director Of Stephen King's 'The Stand'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (November 20, 2013). "Scott Cooper Says His THE STAND Adaptation Is "Harrowing and Searingly Realistic"". Collider. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Shaw, Lucas (November 20, 2013). "'Crazy Heart' Director Scott Cooper Exits Warner Bros.' Stephen King Adaptation (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Radish, Christina (March 12, 2014). "Director Scott Cooper Talks OUT OF THE FURNACE, the Film's Subtlety, Working with Johnny Depp on BLACK MASS, Leaving THE STAND, and More". Collider. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 24, 2014). "'Crazy Heart' Director Making Film on Yarnell Hill Wildfire". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (September 2, 2015). "'Black Mass' Director Scott Cooper in Talks to Tackle 'American Wolf' for Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 23, 2015). "'Black Mass' Helmer Scott Cooper Takes On 'White Knight'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Mike Fleming Jr. (August 1, 2017). "Scott Cooper, Black Label Media Adapt MLK Assassination Thriller 'Hellhound on His Trail'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 21, 2019). "John Lesher's Le Grisbi Sets John-Eric Capps To Head TV, Elevates Dylan Weathered To Head Movies". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Barfield, Charles (December 20, 2022). "Scott Cooper Says Christian Bale Will Star In His Remake Of Laurent Cantet's 'Time Out' & Teases More Work Together". ThePlaylist.net. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 14, 2020). "Scott Cooper To Direct Margaret Qualley In 'A Head Full Of Ghosts' For Cross Creek, Team Downey, The Allegiance Theater – EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/10a51rv/im_scott_cooper_writerdirector_of_a_few_films/
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 6, 2020). "Black Bear Television Sets Scott Cooper To Write & Direct Limited Series 'Angels & Demons' As Company Ramps Up". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
