That's A Wrap: 10 Movies You'll Never See

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See
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Generally speaking, films are intended to be enjoyed by a mass audience, either in a cinema or at home. It’s exactly why studios spend millions on the right actors, creatives and storylines to draw in audiences. However, there’s a rare breed of movie that you’ll never buy a ticket for at a box office, nor find on any streaming service. These are the lost, incomplete or shelved films that became infamous more for the stories behind their cancellation than the quality of the product. We look at the most famous films never to achieve an official release, for reasons of controversy, death, money or simply because the film wasn’t good enough. Some of these titles may have found a way online via illegal methods, but for the general population, they remain lost. How many would you like to see?

By Victoria Luxford

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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The Fantastic Four (1994) – The most famous example of a ‘shelved’ movie is that of The Fantastic Four, the mid-’90s superhero spectacle that would have been the first big-screen adventure of ‘Marvel’s First Family’ (who would eventually get their bow in the 2005 Jessica Alba movie of the same name). A low-budget B-movie produced by the legendary Roger Corman, the film had a release date and was publicised to fans before mysteriously getting cancelled. Some say Marvel stepped in and bought the film in order to prevent it being released, others say the producers never intended to release it in the first place, making it only to retain the rights to the property. The film has leaked online, and it’s safe to say it was unlikely to give the big blockbusters any sleepless nights!

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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Gore (2018) – In 2017, allegations surrounding Kevin Spacey meant that a number of his projects were either cancelled or shelved. Netflix spent a reported $39 million on a biopic of writer and intellectual Gore Vidal, with Spacey in the lead role. The film was in post-production when the headlines hit, and a release was deemed infeasible. Reports that the script contained several extremely sexual scenes made it clear why the movie could never see the light of day. The film hasn’t been leaked, but a superb portrayal of Vidal’s life can be found via the 2015 documentary Best of Enemies.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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100 Years (2115) – While this film will technically be released, it’s unlikely anyone reading this will see it. 100 Years is a project directed by Robert Rodriguez (Alita: Battle Angel) and starring John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich) which was commissioned by a cognac brand. The film, believed to be a sci-fi piece, is intended to be locked away for a century with a bottle of the cognac, and exhibited in 2115. Little is known about the movie, other than that Malkovich also wrote the film and is joined by co-stars Shula Chang and Marko Zaror.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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Hippie Hippie Shake (2010) – British production Hippie Hippie Shake was produced by Working Title Films (Cats, Yesterday) and starred Cillian Murphy as Richard Neville, an Australian writer who became a leader of the counterculture movement in 1960s London. The film, co-starring Sienna Miller as his partner, Louise Ferrier, was filmed in the UK capital in 2007, then on-set disputes delayed the film for a couple of years, before it was officially shelved in 2011 – despite positive test screenings and Miller’s description of it as “beautiful” in an interview with Yahoo Movies. The rumoured reasons for shelving range from financial issues to accusations about Neville’s private life, but regardless, it seems it is destined to never surface.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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Uncle Tom’s Fairy Tales (1968) – Richard Pryor was to star in a controversially themed comedy by student filmmaker Penelope Spheeris (Wayne’s World), about a white man tried for all the race crimes in history. The subject matter was not the reason for its cancellation, however: the negative print was thought to have been shredded in an argument with Pryor’s then-wife, Shelley Bonus. In 2005, after footage of the film emerged at a tribute to Pryor, his widow, Jennifer Lee, filed a lawsuit. Litigation is still ongoing and suggests no footage may ever surface. What remains is believed to have been donated to the Academy Film Archive.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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All the Money in the World (Original Cut, 2017) – There is a Ridley Scott-directed film called All the Money in the World that’s available to watch. However, it’s not the film that was originally intended. Following accusations surrounding his conduct, Kevin Spacey was removed from the role of J Paul Getty, and his scenes were quickly reshot with Christopher Plummer, weeks before the film was meant for cinemas. The film is, arguably, all the better for it, as Plummer is magnificent (he received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal). All that remains of Spacey in the film is an unrecognisable long shot, and a few scenes in the original trailer. Scott has commented that it’s “unlikely” that the Spacey cut will ever be seen by the public.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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The Day the Clown Cried (1972) – Some films seem so extreme in their concept that you wonder how they got as far as filming. Years before he would earn praise in his dramatic debut in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, Hollywood legend Jerry Lewis starred in this sombre piece as a clown whose dwindling talents become of use when he is imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. The production became a Hollywood urban legend, as Lewis refused to release the film following outcry and criticism of the subject matter (in reality, the film also had financial and legal troubles that hindered a formal release). Around half an hour of footage has been broadcast, with some claiming to have seen rough cuts of the film – but even Lewis himself has mused that perhaps the film is better left a mystery to the public.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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Frat House (1998) – Two decades before he would wow audiences with Joker, director Todd Phillips made this documentary about the dark side of fraternity life. The film included extreme hazing, sadistic leaders and Phillips offering himself as a pledge alongside co-director Andrew Gurland. The documentary was never officially released due to accusations of certain scenes being staged (Phillips has denied this), but the film has been discovered via nefarious means on the internet.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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I Love You, Daddy (2017) – Louis C.K.’s dark comedy was raising eyebrows long before its release was cancelled. The comedian directed and starred in the film as a Hollywood writer who becomes concerned when a filmmaker he idolises (John Malkovich) becomes interested in his teenage daughter (Chloë Grace Moretz). News then emerged of Louis C.K.’s alleged sexual misconduct, and the film was withdrawn, with the star buying back the distribution rights. Awards screenings of the film were leaked, but it remains unlikely to be seen in cinemas or on streaming platforms.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See.
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Blackwater Transit (2009) – It should have been a bankable box office thriller, set in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with three hot stars in Karl Urban (Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings), Brittany Snow (Hairspray, Pitch Perfect) and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Man of Steel). However, arguments over the direction of the movie, which went from a Die Hard-style action movie to more of a murky thriller, led to an argument over funds and accusations of fraud. It’s unlikely the film will see the light of day, another lost project for Tony Kaye, who disowned his 1998 debut American History X.

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That’s A Wrap: 10 Movies You’ll Never See

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