List of unproduced Warner Bros. Animation projects
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This is a list of unmade and unreleased projects by Warner Bros. Animation. Some of these productions were, or still are, in development limbo. The following included animated feature films, short films and TV shows that were made by Warner Bros. Animation or their division Warner Animation Group.
After the success of Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm was asked by Warner Bros. and Fox Kids to make a spin-off show but with Catwoman. However, only a small amount of production work was done before the idea was scrapped.[1]
1994[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Androcles
Modern Family writer Stephen Lloyd along with Jonathan Ehrlich (who would go to work on Hi Opie!) and Ann Carli of Crossroads and Fast Food Nation pitched an idea for an animated film version of the famous Roman folktale of Androcles with new songs by Michael Jackson for Warner Bros., but due to production problems going on at Warner Bros. Feature Animation, the film's production was shut down.[2][failed verification]
Feature film
King Tut
In 1994, Bill Kroyer, along with his studio Kroyer Films, was asked to co-produce Warner Bros. Animation's animated musical film of the early times of famous kid EgyptianPharaohTutankhamun (also known as King Tut) with new songs by Prince, but nothing came through and the production was likely cancelled due to some arguments between Kroyer and Warner Bros. However, a few of the concepts later went into Jay Stephens' animated TV show version of his comic Tutenstein. While the rest of the concepts would be used for the upcoming Warner Bros. Spanish animated movie Moomios.[2]
Feature film
Rapunzel
In 1994, Saturday morning cartoon writer Robert Mandell of The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers and Starla and the Jewel Riders was asked by Warner Bros. to write an animated film of the story of Rapunzel. However, the film was cancelled due to nothing new coming after.[3][failed verification]
Feature film
The Snow Queen
Another animated film that was going to be directed by Bill Kroyer and produced by Kroyer Films for Warner Bros. Animation was in the works, this film was going to be based on The Snow Queen, but after heated arguments between Kroyer and Warner Bros. and Kroyer being fired from directing Quest for Camelot, production for The Snow Queen, along with King Tut and Arrow (an animated film fully made by Kroyer Films and distributed by Warner Bros.), was forced to be shut down.[2][failed verification]
1995[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
The Flying Dutchman
In 1995, writers Evelyn Gabai and Sandy Fries of Spider-Man: The Animated Series pitched an idea to Warner Bros. Feature Animation of an animated film of the ghost ship "The Flying Dutchman" with an prologue by David Bowie, but nothing came through and the production was shut down.[2][failed verification]
Feature film
Hiiaka, Daughter of the Volcano
In 1995, animation director Frederik Du Chau was going to make an animated musical film of the famous Hawaiian story Hiiaka, Daughter of the Volcano with a new song by Michael Franks. However, after Bill Kroyer was fired from directing Quest for Camelot and Frederik was brought to take over directing, the film's production was shut down immediately.[4][failed verification]
Feature film
Nicholas Cricket
In 1995, Storyopolis announced it was co-producing a musical animated film adaptation of the children's book Nicholas Cricket by Joyce Maxner and William Joyce with Warner Bros.[5] In 1999, it was announced that Sandra Bullock's production company Fortis Films had extended its production deal with Warner Bros with Nicholas Cricket as one of its projects, and Karey Kirkpatrick was attached as screenwriter.[6]
Feature film
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Along with a series of announced projects, Storyopolis announced they were adapting the children's novel The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Nancy Willard. In January 1997, Geena Davis was cast to voice the female apprentice Sylvia and her production company, the Forge, was co-producing the film. Bill Marsilli was also attached to serve as the project's screenwriter.[5]
Feature film
The Iguana Brothers
Along with a series of announced projects, Storyopolis announced they were adapting the children's book The Iguana Brothers by Tony Johnston and Marc Teague. The story was to tell a road trip featuring two iguanas who travel to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival.[5][7]
Feature film
Red Ranger Came Calling
Along with a series of announced projects, Storyopolis announced they were adapting the children's book, Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed, into a live-action/computer-animated hybrid film.[5][7]
Feature film
Wagstaffe the Wind-Up Boy
An animated adaption of Wagstaffe the Wind-Up Boy by Jan Needle, the story of a boy born with a wind-up key in his back, was in the works at Warner Bros. Animation, but was cancelled when the next project that was announced was The Iron Giant.[2][failed verification]
1996[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Blue Moose
In 1996, an animated feature film adaptation of Blue Moose by children's book author Daniel Pinkwater of a cook named Mr. Breton (set to be voiced by Fred Melamed) gets help from a rare blue moose (set to be voiced by Rick Moranis) to make his restaurant even better was in the works at Warner Bros. Dan Aykroyd was also set to voice Mr. Bobowicz the game warden and Christopher Plummer was set to voice Dave the friendly but shy forest hermit. However, it was cancelled when Warner Bros. decided to make Quest for Camelot as their next movie instead.[2]
Feature film
Haunted Holiday
In the late 1990s, animator Ralph Eggleston was set to direct his first animated feature film at Warner Bros. that was based on the famous ghost story Bluebeard called Haunted Holiday with Tim Curry as the voice of Baron Azuro, a character that was modeled after him. However the production was shut down after the failure of Quest for Camelot and Warner Bros. putting their money on The Iron Giant. After that, Ralph Eggleston left Warner Bros. Animation to return to Pixar in which he won an Academy Award for his short For the Birds. Despite this, the film's storyboards were leaked online.[8]
1998[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
Batman: Arkham
After the success of Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero,Warner Bros. greenlighted the production of a third installment, entitled Batman: Arkham. Boyd Kirkland, the director of this film, was attached to write and direct. The film would have Batman and Robin facing off against a collection of Arkham Asylum escapees, in addition to Batman finding himself falling in love with a new love interest, planned to be voiced by Angie Harmon. The main cast of Batman: The Animated Series was attached to reprise their roles. Steven E. Gordon also drew some art concept for the film. However, the film was cancelled in favor of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (which also featured Harmon),[1] while Batman: Arkham eventually became a successful video game series by Rocksteady.
Feature film
Sho and the Demons of the Deep
In 1998, Warner Bros. Animation pitched an idea for an animated film based on Sho and the Demons of the Deep by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko about a story set in ancient Japan of how kites came to be. However the project was cancelled after no news came and problems at Warner Bros. Feature Animation.[2][failed verification]
Quest for Camelot
The Green Knight and King Arthur's Daughter
Sequels to Quest for Camelot that were based on the books The Green Knight and King Arthur's Daughter by Vera Chapman were in the works at Warner Bros. However, after Quest for Camelot became a commercial and critical failure, the sequels' productions were shut down immediately.[4][failed verification]
2000s[]
2000[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
Untitled Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker sequel
A second Batman Beyond movie was planned for release but was finally scrapped due to the dark tones and controversies of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker in 2000.[9]
2003[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
Untitled Catwoman film
Around 2003, during the production of Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, Warner Bros. approached Boyd Kirkland to write a Catwomandirect-to-video feature film as a tie-in with the 2004 live-action film. Although the script was written, the project was soon scrapped after the poor reception of the live-action film.[10]
Looney Tunes
Skate Jam
In 2003, Warner Bros. had approached professional skater Tony Hawk to star in a live action/animated hybrid film with the Looney Tunes, but following the box office failure of Looney Tunes Back in Action, the project was shelved.[11][12] However, in 2021, Warner Bros later released a sequel titled Space Jam: A New Legacy starring NBA athlete LeBron James.
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes theatrical shorts
In 2003, Warner Bros. Animation had plans to return to making Looney Tunes shorts, produced by Larry Doyle. Six shorts were completed, but higher-ups at Warner Bros. were appalled by them (with problems including inappropriate jokes, over the top violence, and bad animation), so they cancelled the shorts that hadn't been completed and fired Larry Doyle. The six shorts to be completed have since been released on DVD.
2004[]
Series
Title
Description
Justice League
Justice League: Worlds Collide
Around 2004, Bruce Timm announced that a direct-to-videoJustice League feature film was in the works. The film was intended to make a bridge between the second season of Justice League to the first season of Justice League Unlimited. The film was planned to reveal how Wonder Woman acquired her Invisible-Jet, and also planned to feature the Crime Syndicate as the main antagonists, an idea that was originally conceived for the two-part episode "A Better World", until the Syndicate was replaced by the Justice Lords.[13]Dwayne McDuffie wrote the script and Andrea Romano assembled the cast, but Warner Bros. finally scrapped the project.[14] However, in 2010, the film's plot was used for the non-DCAU film Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, but removing all references to the continuity of the DC animated universe, and replacing John Stewart with Hal Jordan as the Justice League's Green Lantern.
Batman
Batman: No Man's Land
In the mid 2000s, producer James Tucker wanted to make a traditional animated television adaptation of Batman: No Man's Land with designs by Coran Stone, but its production was shut down when Warner Bros. Animation found it too dark for television.[1] Later, a second attempt to make a television adaptation was in the works during the late 2000s, but with CGI. However, like their earlier attempt, Warner Bros. found it too dark and violent for television.[1]
2005[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Neopets
In March 2005, it was announced that Warner Bros. had closed a deal to produce a computer-animated film based on Neopets.[15] In February 2006, it was announced that Rob Lieber was hired to write the screenplay. John A. Davis was attached as director along with Dylan Seller as producer.[16]
2006[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
The Batman vs. Hush
A second movie of The Batman titled The Batman vs. Hush that featured Hush as the main villain along with the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, Catwoman and Clayface was planned for a long time. However, the film ended up being scrapped.[17] Before its cancellation, producer Alan Burnett had hopes of making one or two more DTV movies based on The Batman.[18] However, a film based on Batman: Hush ultimately came out in 2019 as part of the DC Animated Movie Universe.
Superman
Untitled Superman spinoff series
In June 2006, during an interview about Superman: Brainiac Attacks, writer Duane Capizzi mentioned a Superman series set in the same universe of The Batman, a possibility supported by Superman's revealed existence during the show's fifth season.[19]
2008[]
Series
Title
Description
Justice League
Untitled Justice League film
An untitled Justice League direct to DVD film was in the works in 2008, with a design by James Tucker.[1]
Green Lantern
Untitled Green Lantern: First Flight sequel
There were plans to make a sequel to Green Lantern: First Flight, but nothing came about due to poor DVD sales.[20]
Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera
Mixed Nutz
Tom Ruegger pitched an idea for a TV show where the Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera characters have crossovers together in different stories and parodies. But production was shut down when the executives found it too tough to put the characters together.[21]
2009[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
Gotham High
In 2009, an animated series that re-imagined the Batman characters as high school students was in development.[22]
2010s[]
2010[]
Series
Title
Description
Wonder Woman
Untitled Wonder Woman sequel
There were plans to make a sequel to the 2009 direct-to-video film Wonder Woman. It was cancelled due to poor DVD sales.[20]
Aquaman
Untitled Aquaman film
An animated film based on Aquaman was first mentioned by Bruce Timm in 2010, but it was cancelled due to marketing concerns.[20][23] In December 2013, filmmaker Adam Green stated he had wrote a screenplay for the project.[24]
Batman
Nightwing: The Animated Series
An animated series featuring Nightwing was in development from Ki Hyun Ryu of The Boondocks and The Legend of Korra fame.[25] The series was rejected in favor of Young Justice.[1]
Looney Tunes
Pepé Le Pew
In October 2010, it was reported that Warner Bros. was producing a live-action/CGI film centered on the Looney Tunes character Pepé Le Pew. Mike Myers was slated to voice the character.[26] In 2016, Max Landis told San Diego Comic-Con that he was writing the script for the film.[27]
2011[]
Series
Title
Description
Batman
Batgirl: Year One
Batman: Year One's executive producer Bruce Timm and co-director Lauren Montgomery expressed interest in producing an animated movie based on Batgirl: Year One.[28][29] But DC cancelled all plans for an adaptation.[30]
The Flintstones
Untitled The Flintstones reboot series
In May 2011, Family Guy and American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane was hired by Warner Bros. Animation to make an adult animated reboot of The Flintstones. The series was projected to premiere during fall 2013.[31] MacFarlane was slated to voice Barney Rubble and other roles, while Jeff Bergman and Tress MacNeille were set to reprise their voice roles as Fred Flintstone and Wilma Flintstone and Patti LuPone was in the talks to voice Pearl Slaghoople. However, the project was placed on hold due to MacFarlane being busy directing A Million Ways to Die in the West and arguments between him and the studio.[32] On March 12, 2021, storyboards of what the show would be like where reveled on the show's storyboard artist Andy Clark's website.[33]
2012[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Bolivar
In March, 2012, Warner Bros. announced they had optioned Sean Rubin's upcoming graphic novel Bolivar for an intended animated feature film. Irish filmmaker Kealan O'Rourke has been attached to write and direct the project. Akiva Goldsman and Kerry Foster were to produce the film through their Weed Road company.[34] However, in April 2018, 20th Century Fox Animation announced they had acquired the rights to the book.[35]
Produced in France and the United States with Christy Hui returning as executive producer, the show is animated in 2D animation while CGI was used for all of the Xiaolin Showdown scenes. The show features new character designs and a slightly altered logo for the show. With the exception of Tara Strong (Omi, Ping Pong) and Jennifer Hale (Kimiko in Chronicles only, Katnappe, Willow), the original's voice cast was replaced due to budget and timing issues.[36] All Shen Gong Wu from the original series had to be renamed because Warner Bros. Animation have no involvement with the series as they ended the partnership with the series after ended in 2006, although ActionFliks Media Corporation acquired the titles and rights to the names. Sunwoo Entertainment contributed some of the animation for this series.
2015[]
Series
Title
Description
Adventure Time
Untitled Adventure Time film
In February 2015, a film based on the Cartoon Network animated series Adventure Time reportedly entered development. Adventure Time creatore Pendleton Ward was set to write and executive-produce, with Chris McKay and Roy Lee producing the film. It would have been a collaboration between Warner Animation Group, Cartoon Network Studios, Vertigo Entertainment, and Frederator Films.[37][38] In October 2015, Adventure Time producer Adam Muto said that Pendleton was developing the film's premise, but stated that there was "nothing official to announce yet".[39] In July 2018, he said that the film was never "officially announced", and in later that August, he stated that the series' finale would not affect development on a potential movie nor would it lead to it, but noted that "all the lore and stuff would not work for a first time viewer", and so, it would need to work on its own to be successful.[40][41]
Lego Movies
The Billion Brick Race
In March 2015, Warner Bros. announced that a third Lego Movie spin-off, titled The Billion Brick Race was in development. Jason Segel and Drew Pearce were signed on to co-direct and write the film. On August 2, 2017, it was announced that Jorge R. Gutierrez had signed on as director, with Pearce stepping down. At that time, the film was scheduled to be released on May 24, 2019. But on February 8, 2018, it was announced that Gutierrez had left the project. for Warner Bros.,[42][43][44] but on December 20, 2019, the franchise moved to Universal Pictures.[45][46]
The Beatles
Meet The Beatles
In September 2015, an animated musical film based on the Beatles was announced to be in development at Warner Animation Group with Paul King in talks to direct.[47]
2016[]
Series
Title
Description
Feature film
Bone
On November 17, 2016, it was announced that Warner Animation Group was adapting Jeff Smith's comic series Bone into an animated film with Mark Osborne to direct it. However, in October 2019, it was announced the project had been sold to Netflix to become a television series.[48][49]
Feature film
Fowl Road
In February 2016, it was announced that Nicholas Stoller was attached to direct an animated film titled Fowl Road. The project was to be a satirical premise about a chicken and a hen who must cross a super highway to save their daughter from a fried chicken company, which would be a take on the "Why did the chicken cross the road?" joke.[50]
2017[]
Series
Title
Description
Watchmen
Untitled Watchmen film
Warner Bros said in April 2017 that it is developing an R-rated animated movie based on the comic book Watchmen. There has been no further announcements since.[51]
2018[]
Series
Title
Description
Lego Movies
Lego Superfriends
In December 2018, Chris McKay confirmed that a The Lego Batman Movie sequel was in development and that he would return to direct the film.[52] However, the film was canceled due to Warner Bros. losing the Lego film rights to Universal.[45][53]In 2021, McKay revealed that the script was being written by Michael Waldron and Dan Harmon. It would have focused on Batman's relationship with the Justice League, particularly Superman, and the main villains would have been Lex Luthor and OMAC.[54]
^Lima, Sara (5 August 2011). "'Batgirl: Year One' Gets the Animated Treatment". Comic Vine. Retrieved May 19, 2018. After all, Warner Brothers animation director (Wonder Woman, Justice League) Lauren Montgomery had cited interest in doing a Batgirl animated film based on the 'Batgirl: Year One' graphic novel in the past.
^Fischer, Travis (25 July 2011). "CCI: "Batman: Year One" Premiere Panel Recap". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 19, 2018. When asked about continuing the "Year One" line with Batgirl, Timm was a little more optimistic. "I suppose we could sneak it in there," he said. "I'd love to do it, personally."