James Gray's unrealized projects

During a career that has spanned over 30 years, American film director James Gray 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 or were cancelled.

1990s

Waking Up in Reno

Main article: Waking Up in Reno

In 1999, Gray was in talks to direct Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in Waking Up in Reno for Miramax. The film was made three years later but without the involvement of Gray, Pitt or Aniston.^[1]

2000s

Edgardo Mortara

It was reported in 2000 that Gray would direct and co-write Edgardo Mortara, a film based on the infamous 1858 kidnapping of the 6-year-old Jewish boy by the Papal police.^[2] Gray was to collaborate with writer Rob Eshman on the screenplay.

Paycheck

In 2003, it was rumored that Gray had written an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novelette "Paycheck". Prior to John Woo being selected, Brett Ratner was in talks to direct.^[3] A film was released later that year, but Gray had no involvement.

Alphabet City

In 2006, Gray was planning to direct Alphabet City, based on the 1995 novel by Steven Knight, who also penned the first draft of the script.^[4]

2010s

Vlad

In 2010, Gray was hired to rewrite the script of the Charlie Hunnam-scripted Vlad, which would have been a period action film based on the story of Dracula. Anthony Mandler had been attached to direct the film.^[5]

The Gray Man

In January 2011, it was reported that Gray would be directing a film adaptation of Mark Greaney's novel The Gray Man written by Adam Cozad. The project was first set up at New Regency.^[6][7] Brad Pitt was initially cast to star, but by October 2015, he and Gray were no longer involved with the film.

Untitled Steve McQueen biopic

In April 2011, Jeremy Renner enlisted Gray to write the screenplay for an untitled Steve McQueen biopic with Renner in the role under his production banner The Combine.^[8] "I did it more or less as a favor to Jeremy and to honor Steve McQueen," Gray said. Heavily researched and based on two books by Marshall Terrill, Portrait of an American Rebel and The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon, the film was initially going to be directed by Ivan Zachariáš, although Gray later stated in 2013 that he may end up directing it himself at some point.^[9]

White Devil

In August 2013, it was announced that Warner Bros. tapped Gray to write and direct White Devil, a film based on the life of John Willis.^[10]

I Am Pilgrim

In April 2018, MGM closed a deal for Gray to direct I Am Pilgrim, an adaptation of the espionage novel by Terry Hayes.^[11] He was slated to direct the film after he finished shooting Ad Astra. However, Gray confirmed in 2022 that the project is officially dead, and that it had got lost in the "business mess" with studios changing hands.^[12]

2020s

Untitled Norman Mailer miniseries

In April 2022, Gray announced plans to develop a limited series about novelist Norman Mailer based on J. Michael Lennon's biography Norman Mailer: A Double Life.^[13]

Armageddon Time sequel

In October 2022, Gray said he was interested in wrangling back the cast for a semi-sequel to Armageddon Time, to focus solely on his mother, who was portrayed by Anne Hathaway. "The story goes in a very unexpected place," said Gray, "Because my father actually did achieve some financial success but wound up getting it all confiscated by the government when he got into legal trouble. At the same time, my mother found out she was dying. And so, it's going to be, I think, something about that period."^[14] That same month, Deadline reported that Gray's next film would be a biopic about a young John F. Kennedy that focused on his time in World War II where he saved his crew from a sinking patrol boat.^[15][16] The film was titled Mayday 109 and had been in development for several years before Gray boarded the project.^[17] Bill Skarsgård was attached to star as Kennedy.^[18]

The Dream of a Thousand Men

In November 2022, Gray revealed in an interview for Collider that one of his dream projects was an epic about the Russian Revolution called The Dream of a Thousand Men, but that it was unlikely to be made anytime soon, if at all, due to Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion.^[19]

Ezekiel Moss

In March 2023, it was announced Gray would direct Ezekiel Moss, a Depression-set ghost story written by Keith Bunin, for Focus Features.^[20]

Summer Frost

In February 2024, Gray replaced Neil Burger as the director of Summer Frost, based on Blake Crouch's source material, which had first been announced back in 2020. Zoe Saldana is attached to star in the film.^[21]

Kill Your Darlings

In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Julia Roberts would be teaming with Gray for an adaptation of Peter Swanson's forthcoming Kill Your Darlings, a murder mystery "told in reverse."^[22]

Offers

The Devil's Own

Main article: The Devil's Own

After Little Odessa, Gray was offered the script for The Devil's Own by Brad Pitt, a friend of his. Gray turned it down and the film was ultimately directed by Alan J. Pakula.^[23]

Good Will Hunting

Main article: Good Will Hunting

Gray passed up the opportunity to direct 1997's Good Will Hunting.^[24]