William Friedkin’s Many Unrealized Projects, from ‘Exorcist’ Sequels to a ‘Killer Joe’ TV Series

“The Exorcist III”

After the runaway success of “The Exorcist,” Friedkin chose to be uninvolved in its 1974 sequel, which opened to intensely negative critical reception. The director nearly returned for the third film in the series, however, collaborating with original novel author William Peter Blatty on a follow-up. He ultimately left the project due to conflicting ideas with Blatty, and the author instead turned his screenplay into the 1983 novel “Legion.” Seven years later, Blatty would adapt and direct “The Exorcist III” himself — although extensive last-minute studio interference reportedly altered the final cut of the film dramatically. 

Other William Peter Blatty Adaptations

Although their experience with “The Exorcist III” didn’t go according to plan, Friedkin and Blatty did occasionally attempt to mount a reunion several times over their careers — only for their attempts to sputter in development. In 1993, the Washington Post reported the duo was making a film version of Blatty’s short story “Elsewhere.” Almost 20 years later, in 2010, the two reportedly spoke about adapting Blatty’s novel “Dimiter,” a supernatural thriller set in Jerusalem. Neither project panned out, and Blatty died in 2017. 

Untitled Peter Gabriel Sci-Fi Movie

In 1973, Prog rock band Genesis released a live album, which included a short story from frontman Peter Gabriel on its sleeve. Friedkin read the story and approached Gabriel to write a new sci-fi film with him; however, nothing came of it, and Gabriel later said, “In the end, unfortunately, nothing happened; it was one of many Hollywood projects that bit the dust.”

“The Devil’s Triangle”

After the success of “The Exorcist,” one of the many films that Friedkin began developing was “The Devil’s Triangle.” A-list actors Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and Charlton Heston were all tapped to star in a UFO movie set in the Bermuda Triangle. Progress on the project, however, was delayed by the lengthy production cycle of “Sorcerer,” and Friedkin dropped the endeavor when Steven Spielberg began filming his own alien visitor movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” 

“A Safe Darkness”

In 1974, Friedkin began development on “A Safe Darkness,” a documentary project looking at the history of horror cinema. Friedkin filmed interviews with German expressionist Fritz Lang and Roman Polanski, but the project ultimately never got off the ground. An edited version of his conversation with Lang was shown at the Torino Film Festival. 

Two Thomas Thompson Adaptations

At two separate points in his career, Friedkin nearly directed an adaptation of a book by Thomas Thompson. In 1978, he began developing a 10-hour adaptation of “Blood and Money,” Thompson’s book based on the murders of Houston socialite Joan Robinson Hill and her husband John Hill. The project faced development issues, and Friedkin ultimately abandonded it to work on “Cruising.” In 2003, he expressed interest in making a film based on Thompson’s serial killer book “Serpentine,” but nothing came of that either.

“Desperadoes”

In 1979, it was reported that Friedkin was working on an adaptation of “Desperadoes,” the novel by writer Ron Hansen. Part-western, part-showbiz story, the film would have focused on the life of Emmett Dalton, a member of the Old West Dalton Brothers gang who later worked as a writer and an actor in early Hollywood.  

“Brain”

In 1981, it was reported that Friedkin had been tapped to direct a medical thriller, titled “Brain.” Based on the book by Robin Cook, the would-be film focused on a grotesque experiment involving computer parts embededed into human brains. That same year, Friedkin suffered a severe heart attack and spent months in rehabilitation, putting most of his film projects on hold. 

“That Championship Season”

“That Championship Season” is the film adaptation of Jason Miller’s play about the 20 year anniversary reunion of a high school state championship basketball team, which won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize. Miller, who played Father Karras in “The Exorcist,” tapped Friedkin to direct the film adaptation. Friedkin offerred the role of Coach Delaney to William Holden, who died in 1981 before he could accept. Friedkin dropped out soon afterwards, and Miller directed the movie himself, with Robert Mitchum in the lead role. 

Two Sylvester Stallone Films

During the ’80s, Friedkin almost directed a film starring Sylvester Stallone two separate times. In 1985, they were both attached to “The Executioner,” an action film adapting Don Pendleton’s novel series. In 1988, it was announced they were working on a film called “The Gambler,” featuring a script written by “RoboCop” screenwriter Edward Neumeier. In both cases, the films died early in the screenwriting process, and Friedkin and Stallone never made a movie together.

“Desperate Hours”

Friedkin was the second of three directors attached to “Desperate Hours,” a 1990 neo-noir based on the 1955 William Wylver film, starring Mickey Rourke as an escaped convict hiding in a married couple’s home. Originally the film was going to be directed by Chris Cain. Cain departed, and Friedkin briefly boarded the project, only to leave in order to make his 1990 film “The Guardian.” When Friedkin left, the film ultimately went to Michael Cimino of “Heaven’s Gate” fame. 

Leiber and Stoller Biopic

In 1989, it was reported that Friedkin was working on a biopic film about Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the 1950s songwriting duo known for hits recorded by Elvis and Peggy Lee. Leiber himself was expected to collaborate with Friedkin on the script, but the film never got past the writing stage. 

A Film About Florence and James Maybrick

Florence Maybrick was an American woman convicted of murdering her husband, English cotton merchant James Maybrick, in a widely publicized trial in 1889. Over a century later, in 1992, a document presented as James’ diary surfaced, and it was used to claim that he was the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper (although several critics doubted the veracity of the documentary). 

Friedkin was attached to two separate films about the Maybricks. In 1995, he was set to direct “The Diary of Jack the Ripper,” a film starring Anthony Hopkins as James. Two years later, he filed a lawsuit against New Line Cinema, alleging they blocked development on the picture. In 1998, he started working on a new film about the lives of Florence and James; titled “Battle Grease,” that movie was told more from Florence’s perspective. Again, the film died in development and went unmade. 

“Bag Man”

In 1997, Variety reported that Friedkin used his own money to option the rights to “Bag Man,” a crime novel from author John Flood. Friedkin reportedly spoke to Michael Keaton about starring as the main character: an assistant district attorney who investigates the murder of a priest in 1965. The movie stalled in development. 

“Truth or Dare”

In 1998, it was announced that Friedkin would direct “Truth or Dare,” a thriller remake of the British film of the same name, for New Regeancy. The movie is about a female lawyer, who reconnects with her college friends and finds herself involved in a romance — and later murder. It was to be scripted by William Davies, but didn’t materialize.

Sonny Liston Biopic

In 1998, Friedkin was attached to direct a biopic of boxer Sonny Liston in development at Paramount Pictures. Ving Rhames was set to play Liston, the world heavyweight champion from 1962 to 1964, when he lost to Muhammad Ali in an upset bout. The film languished in development for years, and rematerialized in 2004 under the prospective direction of “Pulp Fiction” cinematographer Andrzej Sekula, but was ultimately never made.  

“O Jerusalem!”

In 2000, Friedkin was in discussions to direct a film adaptation of “O Jerusalem!,” Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre’s 1972 history of the creation of Isreal. James Dearden, best known for writing the script to “Fatal Attraction,” was hired to write the screenplay, but the project never made it out of early development. 

“Shooter”

In 2000, Friedkin was attached to direct “Shooter,” an action thriller based on the 1993 novel “Points of Impact” by author Stephen Hunter. Tommy Lee Jones was attached to star in the project. However, Friedkin and Jones both dropped out, and the film ultimately was released in 2007, with Antoine Fuqua directing and Mark Whalberg starring. 

“The Book of Skulls”

In 2003, Friedkin was attached to direct a psychological horror film titled “The Book of Skulls” for Paramount Pictures. Based on the book by sci-fi writer Robert Silverberg, the film would have focused on a group of students who discover an ancient book containing the secret to eternal life. “Criminal Minds” creator Jeff Davis and Terry Hayes were hired to write the script, but the movie never materialized. 

“The Man Who Kept Secrets”

In 2004, it was reported that Friedkin was working on a film about Sidney Korshak, a notorious 1950s Hollywood lawyer with Chicago mob connections that made him a powerful fixer to stars and business figures in the industry. The film, titled “The Man Who Kept Secrets,” never got past early development, particularly after The New York Times wrote a story accusing Friedkin of being on the receiving end of nepotism, as his wife then served as the chairman of Paramount Pictures, which ordered the movie. 

“Coco and Igor”

In 2007, it was reported that Friedkin was working on a film adaptation of “Coco and Igor,” a 2002 novel about the affair between fashion designer Coco Chanel and composer Igor Stravinski. Marina Hands was tapped to play Chanel, while Mads Mikkelsen was set to play Stravinski. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the movie would film in September 2007 for a French release in spring 2008, but those dates weren’t hit and it died in development. 

“Trapped”

In 2012, it was reported that Friedkin was working on a new film, “Trapped.” Described as an indie thriller, the only thing known about the movie was that Mexican actor Demián Bichir would star. Nothing else was reported on the project, and it was never shot. 

“I Am Wrath”

In 2012, Friedkin was announced to be directing “I Am Wrath,” a crime drama starring Nicolas Cage. Their version didn’t survive early development, and the film was retooled and later released in 2016, directed by Chuck Russell and starring John Travolta. 

“Mae West”

In 2013, HBO ordered the original film “Mae West,” an adaptation of the iconic Hollywood and vaudville star’s autobiography “Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It.” Bette Midler was signed to play West, and Friedkin would direct a script written by Harvey Fierstein. The film stalled in development.

“Killer Joe” and “To Live and Die in LA” TV Shows

In 2014, Friedkin revealed that he was developing TV pilots based on two of his films: “To Live and Die in LA” and 2011’s “Killer Joe.” Friedkin described both TV projects as spiritual successors to the original films, capturing the vibe of the movies but not telling the same stories. When both projects didn’t make it past early development, it left “Killer Joe” as his last work — until this year’s Venice Film Festival premiere of “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”