Development hell is a place no movie wants to be. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most anticipated films that haven’t been released for various reasons.
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00:00 "Kazaki, a kiss for you, Peter."
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most anticipated films
00:09 that haven't been released for various reasons.
00:11 Even if production has been confirmed, no official release date has been announced for
00:14 any of these yet.
00:16 "Scott, you just don't get it, do you?
00:20 You don't."
00:21 #10.
00:22 District 10
00:23 It's not often that a director hits it out of the park with their debut feature.
00:28 Neil Blomkamp did just that with his socio-political science fiction piece District 9.
00:33 "Come on, get up.
00:34 I'm gonna get you out of here.
00:35 I'm gonna get you to the doctor."
00:36 The director hinted at a sequel before the film was even released, saying that he'd be
00:40 interested in making one if the first performed well.
00:43 To say it did would be an understatement.
00:44 It was beloved by many and nominated for four Academy Awards.
00:47 "Everybody wants to know what's going to happen next."
00:51 "There's no way of knowing whether or not Christopher Johnson will return.
00:54 We don't know if he was simply escaping, whether he will effect a rescue plan."
00:58 Despite that, a sequel is yet to be made.
01:00 Other projects became Blomkamp's priority, leaving it on the back burner.
01:03 However, District 9 lead actor Charlotte O'Copley affirmed in August 2022 that the writing process
01:09 had begun.
01:10 "Neil's shooting Gran Turismo now, so the earliest that we would be shooting it would
01:13 probably be in a year and a half or so.
01:16 Let's see.
01:17 Fingers crossed."
01:18 With Blomkamp having finished Gran Turismo, there's a chance District 10 could be shot
01:21 one day.
01:22 #9.
01:23 The Last of Us Treasure 3
01:24 "I'm going to steal it."
01:25 "What?"
01:26 "I'm going to steal the Declaration of Independence."
01:33 With its fun premise and star-studded cast, it's no wonder people want more of this action-historical
01:37 fiction fusion.
01:38 The Last installment came out in 2007, with a follow-up being planned shortly afterwards.
01:43 "Any report regarding what's on page 47?"
01:45 "I believe I can help with that, sir."
01:48 "So it's good."
01:49 "Life-altering, sir."
01:50 However, there have been several delays, mostly focused on the script and Disney disliking
01:54 the story, leading to a long cycle of rewrites.
01:57 Some hopes were reignited when the sequel officially entered into development in 2020,
02:01 but in 2022, Cage implied that Disney was more focused on the television adaptation.
02:06 "Sudeski's clue room.
02:07 To that treasure we were asking you about."
02:09 "Sudeski has a clue room?
02:15 To a treasure?"
02:16 And in March 2024, he said he wouldn't return for a third film.
02:19 So National Treasure 3 might be history.
02:22 #8.
02:23 Janis Joplin Biopic
02:24 This singer-songwriter's life is perfect for the silver screen.
02:27 With Janis Joplin's dynamic presence and tumultuous personal life, her biopic would
02:32 be jam-packed with drama and amazing tunes.
02:43 There are plenty of documentaries about the musician, but a dramatized biography is yet
02:47 to be made.
02:48 Several studios have attempted to get one off the ground with potential actresses including
02:52 Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, and Pink, but to no avail.
02:55 "You know, I think it's, uh, I think honestly Janis doesn't want it made.
03:00 I think there's a lot of things that go into that.
03:02 I think it's a lot harder to get a biopic done about a female."
03:06 The most recent version, supposedly starring Michelle Williams, was reported back in 2016,
03:11 and there hasn't been an update since.
03:13 There may be radio silence, but audiences are still waiting patiently for the Queen
03:17 of Rock story to finally be told.
03:29 Before the modern series began, fans of the original were skeptical that it would hold
03:32 up.
03:33 They were happily proven wrong with both sequels breathing new life into the franchise.
03:45 Entertainment has been high for a fourth movie, which was teased shortly after the third hit
03:48 theaters.
03:49 Dwayne Johnson even hinted at the potential story fueling enthusiasm.
03:52 It was ultimately delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
03:55 "And for weaknesses, endurance.
03:58 And what else?
03:59 Let's see.
04:00 Heat, sun, and sand.
04:01 Shouldn't be a problem."
04:04 However, producer Hiram Garcia has claimed that the work will start up again once director
04:09 Jake Kasdan has finished making Red One, which is slated for release in late 2024.
04:14 That means that we could be returning to the jungle fairly soon.
04:20 6.
04:27 Twilight of the Mallrats
04:28 While Mallrats may not have been a critical or financial hit, its effortless charm helped
04:32 it accrue a loyal cult following.
04:43 Many years after it first came out, Kevin Smith stated that a second one was finally
04:46 going to be made.
04:47 There was an immediate buzz, which still remained even after delays were reported.
04:51 Years passed and it went through several changes, even nearly becoming a miniseries.
04:54 "Adventure, excitement.
04:56 Jedi craves not these things.
04:58 Holy, you spoke!
04:59 I just never had anything good to say before."
05:02 However, it still has yet to leave limbo.
05:05 Fans are also still waiting for the conclusion of Smith's true north trilogy, Moose Jaws,
05:09 which doesn't have an official release date.
05:11 While the Mallrats sequel may not come out for some time, most viewers just seem excited
05:15 for a new addition to View Askew Universe.
05:17 5.
05:18 Live-Action Akira
05:19 With a beloved story and respected filmmaker at the helm, the hype for this adaptation
05:29 could be out of this world.
05:30 The animated original is highly esteemed, and a live-action version would pique the
05:34 interest of fans and new viewers alike.
05:46 Warner Bros. Pictures has had the rights for decades, but a litany of issues caused the
05:50 production to falter early on.
05:52 Things seemed to turn around when Taika Waititi signed on, but it was abandoned once it came
05:56 time for him to direct the fourth Thor film.
05:58 While he's claimed he plans to come back to Akira after completing his duties on Star
06:01 Wars, longtime lovers of the anime aren't holding out too much hope.
06:15 4.
06:16 Austin Powers 4
06:17 It's one of the most beloved comedic movie series for a reason.
06:31 Its irreverent style and humor have left an undeniable mark on the satirical spy comedy
06:35 genre.
06:36 Even though the last installment was over 20 years ago, demand is still high for another.
06:40 It's been teased countless times, with Mike Myers and Jay Roach both confirming that it
06:43 was being made, albeit slowly.
06:52 Between personal commitments and various setbacks, it kept being pushed back.
06:56 The unfortunate passing of "Mini-Me" actor Verne Troyer became another factor as well,
07:00 with Roach implying that it couldn't be made without him.
07:11 If Austin Powers 4 ever sees the light of day, it could serve as a tribute to him, which
07:15 is just another reason people are still waiting for it to be confirmed.
07:19 3.
07:20 Legally Blonde 3
07:21 The original was the definition of not judging a book by its cover.
07:24 With its subversive plot carefully wrapped in a bright pink bow, it became a piece of
07:28 feminist media that has aged well over the years.
07:41 Reese Witherspoon started negotiations for a third in 2018 with hopes of producing it
07:45 herself and taking on the starring role once more.
07:48 Things seem to be going well, with a release date being set for May 8, 2020.
07:51 Reese gave an update on the highly anticipated third installment of Legally Blonde, which
07:56 is being co-written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Gore.
08:00 However, that day came and went.
08:01 It was announced instead that Mindy Kaling and Dan Gore would rewrite the script, but
08:06 updates just stopped.
08:18 Amazon revealed in 2023 that a third film is coming, though, along with a TV series.
08:22 Hopefully they'll be worth the wait.
08:24 2.
08:25 Guillermo Del Toro's At the Mountains of Madness
08:27 There's no doubt that Guillermo Del Toro is an accomplished and incredibly talented
08:31 auteur, but his list of unfinished projects is almost as long as his actual filmography.
08:36 "I was trying to make you someone you were not.
08:41 So don't be Carlo, or anyone else.
08:46 Be exactly who you are."
08:49 One of the most exciting, an adaptation of H.P.
08:51 Lovecraft's classic novella At the Mountains of Madness has been in development hell for
08:54 decades.
08:55 He and Universal were at odds over the budget and potential R rating.
09:03 It seemed it would die without ever being given a chance, until Netflix stepped in.
09:06 Del Toro pitched it to the streaming service in 2020.
09:09 He's even said that he plans to rework it and make it even weirder, which has only made
09:13 his supporters even more hopeful.
09:15 "He became, for aficionados, he became the favorite ghost."
09:20 "Oh, I see."
09:21 "I had him reproduce Life-Size, because it seemed like the reasonable thing to do."
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09:42 Number 1.
09:43 Sherlock Holmes 3
09:44 Robert Downey Jr.'s version of the iconic detective proved to be successful in the box
09:48 office and with fans.
09:49 "I'm concerned you underestimate the gravity of coming events.
09:53 You and I are bound together on a journey that will twist the very fabric of nature."
09:59 Work began on the threequel shortly after the second was released.
10:02 The story was finished and the main cast was reconfirmed by 2015, and it seemed that the
10:06 trailer would drop any day.
10:08 That day still has yet to come.
10:10 "Conclusion?
10:11 Inevitable.
10:12 Unless…"
10:14 "Unless."
10:15 Rewrites and directorial replacements pushed back the release date, with the last one being
10:19 in late 2021 before things went dark.
10:21 The pandemic and other works such as Oppenheimer ended up taking center stage.
10:25 Downey Jr. has still expressed his interest in making it, and now that his successful
10:29 Oscars campaign has ended, Sherlock Holmes 3 might finally get its moment in the sun.
10:33 "Robert wanted to be in charge of this, so the ball's in his court.
10:39 So he's in charge of the script, he's in charge of the whole thing."
10:42 Which film are you hoping will finally be released from production hell?
10:45 Let us know in the comments below.
10:47 "I insist."
10:48 "You insist."
10:49 "You remember we discussed this."
10:50 "The lady insists."
10:51 Did you enjoy this video?
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10:57 to be notified about our latest videos.
10:59 [music]