Chris Columbus's unrealized projects

In 1985, Columbus wrote an script for a third Indiana Jones film entitled Indiana Jones and the Monkey King.[1] Columbus' script was about the trip of Indy along his assistant Betsy to a secret city protected by soldier gorillas and governed by the evil Monkey King. According to Columbus, he wrote the script so that the story doesn't look like the previous film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.[2] However, at the end, Columbus' script was rejected and the film was finally released in 1989 under the title Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 1995, Columbus wrote for 20th Century Fox a script for the long time planned Fantastic Four feature-length film.[3] The film was supposed to be released around the 2001 summer. Peter Segal was attached to direct it, but later, he dropped the project, so Raja Gosnell took the director's chair, but he dropped it after being hired by Warner Bros. to direct Scooby-Doo and its sequel. After this, director Peyton Reed entered into the project and wanted to cast Renée Zellweger as Invisible Woman.[4] The film was finally released in 2005, directed by Tim Story and written by Michael France and Mark Frost.

Plans for a live-action film adaptation of his own 1986 animated TV series Galaxy High was planned in partnership with John H. Williams of Vanguard Films, and reteamed with Chris Columbus to develop the big screen version of Galaxy High School. After various development deals with both DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures, So far nothing ever came out of it, either being scrapped or in development hell.

In 1997, Columbus was hired by Columbia Pictures to write an script for a Daredevil feature film.[5] Columbus' script was later leaked on Internet in 1999. Despite this, Columbia dropped the project and 20th Century Fox bought the rights.[6] The film was finally released in 2003 and directed by Mark Steven Johnson.

In July 2004, Columbus was hired to direct a film adaptation of Namor.[7] The film was supposed to be released in 2007,[8] however, in 2005, Columbus abandoned the project.[9]

On February 16, 2007, Columbus was in talks to direct a Dilbert film.[10] On May 26, 2010, Ken Kwapis was hired to direct the film, instead of Columbus.[11]

In October 2008, Columbus pitched an idea for the Ripley’s Believe It or Not film that was approved by Jim Carrey and Paramount, scrapped the previous China-based storyline entirely, with plans for a 2011 release, and hoped that it would be the start of a Ripley's film series.[12] In January 2011, Eric Roth was hired to write the script, with Carrey and Columbus still attached. Ken Atchity and Chi-Li Wong joined the project as producers, alongside Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel and it is intended to be a fantasy film.[13][14] There has been no further announcements since.

On February 23, 2011, it was announced that Columbus will direct and produce the remake of Hello Ghost through his company, 1492 Pictures and Next Entertainment World.[15] On, June 30, 2011, Karen Croner was set to write the script.[16] On, June 13, 2013, Universal Pictures optioned the remake and Adam Sandler was set to star in and produce the film.[17] There have been no further developments since.

On May 14, 2011, it was announced that Columbus's 1492 Pictures and CJ Entertainment & Media will produce the action-adventure fantasy film “Temple Stay” with Dan and Kevin Hageman writing the script and JK Youn directing the film.[18] There have been no further developments since.

On June 10, 2011, it was announced that Columbus' company 1492 Pictures and CJ Entertainment & Media acquired rights to remake Trollhunter.[19] On, 20 September 2013, Neil Marshall was set to direct the remake.[20] On November 2016, the remake has been cancelled.[21]

On November 8, 2011, Columbus's 1492 Pictures will produce Adam Green's adaptation of Greg Taylor's book Killer Pizza with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer set to distribute the film.[22] There have been no further developments since.

On March 30, 2012, it was announced that Columbus will direct and produce and adapt the Kristin Hannah novel Home Front through 1492 Pictures.[23] There have been no further developments since.

On June 4, 2012, it was announced that Columbus will direct and produce and adapt the John Grisham novel Calico Joe through 1492 Pictures.[24] There have been no further developments since.

On July 12, 2012, it was announced at Comic-Con that Columbus will produce and write a segment of the anthology film based on CREEPY Magazine.[25] There have been no further developments since.

On November 19, 2012, Paramount Pictures announced that Columbus will produce the remake of Young Sherlock Holmes through 1492 Pictures with Evan Spiliotopoulos writing the script.[26] There have been no further developments since.

The film rights to Columbus and Ned Vizzini's House of Secrets trilogy have been picked up by Rise Entertainment, along with Columbus's 1492 Pictures was going to adapt the series from Columbus' initial screenplay with principal photography slated to begin in January 2014.[27] There have been no further developments since.

On April 16, 2014, it was announced that Columbus will direct a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire with David Berenbaum writing the script and Robin Williams was set to star.[28] The film was cancelled because of Williams' death.[29]

On August 28, 2014, it was announced that Columbus's 1492 Pictures and Crystal City Entertainment will produce the film adaptation of SS Exodus with Mark Friedman writing the script.[30] There have been no further developments since.