Neill Blomkamp's unrealized projects

During his long career, South African-Canadian film director Neill Blomkamp 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.^[1][2]

2000s

Halo

In August 2006, it was reported that Blomkamp was to direct a film based on the Halo video game for 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures.^[3] Blomkamp confirmed in October 2007 that plans to make the film were officially scrapped.^[4]

2010s

The Leviathan feature film

In March 2015, it was reported that Blomkamp would produce the feature film remake of Ruairi Robinson‘s short The Leviathan, with Robinson directing, Jim Uhls set to write the spec screenplay and Simon Kinberg attached to produce the film for 20th Century Fox.^[5][6]

Alien 5

Blomkamp's involvement with the Alien franchise goes as far back as 2015.^[7][8][9] Blomkamp originally planned to an Alien film in which Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn would reprise their roles as Ellen Ripley, Bishop II and Dwayne Hicks respectively.^[10][11] The film was to have been a sequel to Aliens (1986).^[12] Ridley Scott said in 2017 that it was likely that Blomkamp's would not be made.^[13][14] Blomkamp himself said in 2021 that the film was never made because 20th Century Fox chose to produce Alien: Covenant (2017) instead.^[15][16] The box office failure of Alien: Covenant also served as a factor as to why Blomkamp's film was never made.^[17] Blomkamp confirmed in subsequent interviews that he was no longer interested in making the film.^[18][19]

In June 2021, concept art related to Blomkamp's version was released.^[20][21]

In April 2023, Weaver confirmed that she would no longer reprise her role as Ripley and admitted that she wanted to do the film with Blomkamp.^[22]

The Gone World

In November 2015, it was reported that Blomkamp was in talks with 20th Century Fox to write and direct a film adaptation of Tom Sweterlitsch's novel The Gone World.^[23] In July 2017, it was announced that Blomkamp was still attached to direct the film.^[24]

Firebase feature film

In April 2018, it was reported that Blomkamp was to direct the feature film remake of his short Firebase, but canceled it due to a failed crowdfunding campaign.^[25]

Robocop Returns

In July 2018, it was announced that Blomkamp was to direct Robocop Returns for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[26][27][28][29]} The film was to have been a direct sequel to RoboCop (1987).^{[30][31][32][33]} It was reported that Blomkamp was to rewrite the script that was initially written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner.^[34][35][36] It was also reported that Blomkamp wanted Peter Weller to reprise his role as Robocop.^[37] In August 2019, it was announced that Blomkamp was no longer involved with the project.^{[38][39][40][41]}

Inferno

In October 2019, it was reported that Blomkamp was to direct Taylor Kitsch in a film project titled Inferno.^[42][43][44]

2020s

District 10

In February 2021, Blomkamp announced that a screenplay titled District 10 was being written and would serve as the sequel to his 2009 film District 9.^[45][46][47]

Offers

Dune

On October 28, 2009, Blomkamp was offered to direct the film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune for Paramount Pictures, which eventually became the 2021 film and its sequel Dune: Part Two.^[48]