Top 10 Movies Cancelled Over Unforeseen Tragedy
#10: “Gone in 60 Seconds” Sequel
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Fifteen years after the original, director H. B. Halicki got cameras rolling on a spiritual follow-up to the film that put him on the map. Unfortunately, he never got to see the finished product, and neither would anyone else. Halicki died in a stunt accident partway through production on the sequel, bringing everything to a grinding halt. See, Halicki wasn’t just the film’s director, he also wrote, produced, and starred in the movies. Without him, there was simply no one left to finish “60 Seconds 2.” Since the original got a loose remake in 2000, it doesn’t seem like Halicki’s planned reboot will ever see the light of day.
#9: “Big Bug Man”
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Marlon Brando has one of the most prolific resumes in film history. Despite that, his final work has never actually been released. In 2004, Brando voiced a corrupt old lady in the upcoming animated film, “Big Bug Man.” But, a month after recording his lines, the actor took his final breath. Later, “Big Bug Man’s” release was delayed a year. And then it was delayed again. And again. To this day, nothing surrounding “Big Bug Man’s” production has ever officially materialized. Let alone the film itself. Given the proximity to Brando’s death, many theorize the movie was pulled so that his final film role wouldn’t be the crotchety Mrs. Sour.
#8: “Don Camillo Six”
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At the time of their release, the “Don Camillo” films were some of the highest-grossing features in Italian cinema history. So, returning for a sixth installment was a no-brainer, especially for leading man Fernandel. Unfortunately, the actor fell ill and died before he could complete his work on the film. That didn’t spell the end of the franchise, though. Instead, Don Camillo was recast and the proposed sixth installment was entirely reshot. There’s no way of knowing for sure how different Fernandel’s version of the movie would’ve been. But, since the character was rebooted in the 1980s, Fernandal’s tenure as Don Camillo was ending, either way.
#7: “...All the Marbles” Sequel
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In the 60s and 70s, director Robert Aldrich delivered a series of well-received hits like “The Longest Yard” and “Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte.” By the 80s, he’d built up enough goodwill to work on something of a passion project. Introducing, “...All the Marbles.” The female-led wrestling film didn’t exactly K.O. the competition, but it did well enough to earn a sequel. This time, in Japan. But, just as Aldrich began developing the finer details, he suddenly passed away due to kidney failure. Without the movie’s biggest supporter to champion it through production, the announced sequel to “...All the Marbles” has never come to be.
#6: “Leningrad: The 900 Days”
Director Sergio Leone was no stranger to ambitious war epics, and this was shaping up to be his best one yet. As if to prove his passion, he personally secured funding, enlisted a cinematographer, and found a worthy composer. All before an official script was even written. In fact, Leone allegedly had the entire opening scene already plotted out. But, in a cruel twist of fate, he died of a heart attack just two days before he was supposed to officially sign on for the project. Another director tried to finish Leone’s work, but when funding fell through, the “Leningrad” adaptation was shelved. It’s been collecting dust ever since.
#5: “The Addams Family Three”
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Raul Julia was the perfect father figure for the Addams household. He made Gomez a total scene-stealer, which is all the more impressive considering the health issues he faced during production. Unfortunately, he couldn’t maintain that forever. Julia managed to power through the filming of “Addams Family Values,” but shortly after, he lost his battle with stomach cancer. Yes, the film is creepy and it's kooky, but the Addams’ were still a family. So, without their patriarch, the plans for a third film were immediately scrapped. Instead, the series hibernated for a few years, and then returned in “Addams Family Reunion” with an almost entirely new cast.
#4: “Romance of the Pink Panther”
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Between the years of 1963 and 1978, Peter Sellers brought Inspector Clouseau to life in five separate films. If it were up to him, he would’ve been back for a sixth one, too. But, all that went up in smoke after Sellers’ tragic passing in 1980. Rather than recasting Clouseau for the already-planned “Romance of the Pink Panther,” the movie was canceled altogether. As a compromise, the series produced “Trail of the Pink Panther,” which introduced a whole new detective to carry on Clouseau’s legacy. Sellers still technically appears via archival footage. But, it’s safe to say this isn’t the sixth “Pink Panther” film he or his fans were expecting.
#3: “Something’s Got to Give”
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Ironically, the title of this troubled film is exactly what most were thinking behind the scenes. It’s just a shame that “something” ended up being Marilyn Monroe herself. She was allegedly a nightmare to work with onset, to the point she was fired, replaced, and re-hired all within the span of a few months. Then, just when the movie seemed to be back on track, Monroe passed away. That proved to be the final nail in the coffin. “Something’s Got to Give” was officially canceled, and all of its existing materials were repurposed for a new film, “Move Over, Darling.” Years later, the original Monroe footage has only ever appeared in documentaries.
#2: “Midnight Rider”
The specifics of this one are a bit complicated. Supposedly, director Randall Miller had permission to film in Wayne County, Georgia. But, not in the railroad that cut through it, since it was considered a different property. Despite that, Miller’s crew set up a scene on the private trestle bridge, which ended up being a fatal mistake. An unexpected train crashed through their set, killing one crew member and injuring several more. Later, Miller, among others, were charged with criminal trespassing and involuntary manslaughter. Various producers tried to restart production after the fact, but once star William Hurt backed out, the film shuttered for good.
#1: “A Confederacy of Dunces” Film Adaptation
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In 1982, John Belushi planned to take this classic picaresque novel to the big screen. But, following his premature death, the project was put on hold. It picked up steam again once John Candy became attached - only for it to falter a second time when he died, too. After that, history repeated itself yet again with Chris Farley. That’s not a very encouraging pattern. Scarily enough, most of those actors were also attached to another book adaptation, “Atuk.” Just like “A Confederacy of Dunces,” it’s stalled in development ever since. At this point, neither of these movies may ever be made, and that might be for the best.
