Singer Paula Abdul was in talks for an animated series based on the animated rapperMC Skat Kat for Fox Kids along with an animated movie for Universal Pictures. Following the release of the album of the same name, but due to the poor sales and reviews of the album, the ideas never materialized.[1]
In 1992, a planned animated series based on the 1986 film Aliens titled Operation: Aliens was being produced for Fox Kids along with an LCD game, board game, a Sega Genesis video game, and action figures as tie-ins for the proposed series, but was ultimately cancelled, with the only things that came out of this scrapped project was the action figure line.[2][3][4][5]
In May 1993, Nickelodeon announced a two-year picture deal with 20th Century Fox to produce some of its films, including its IPs such as the aforementioned Ren & Stimpy. However, the idea of a "warm and fuzzy" family film adaptation of the show's "cynical and gross" style of humor was deemed unfit and would have likely ran into creative issues with creator John Kricfalusi (who would be forced out several months after the deal was announced).[6][7] Fox's film deal with Nick expired when Viacom purchased the network, along with Paramount Pictures, in 1994 leaving Paramount to distribute and co-produce the network's theatrically released films.
Nickelodeon was also making a Doug film adaptation in 1993 when they made a deal with Fox to make films based on their properties along with films, but the plans evaporated when Viacom acquired Paramount Pictures in 1994, and the deal expired in the following year. The film would later be made under Disney as a response to the success of Disney TVA's own series that aired on ABC and released as Doug's 1st Movie.[8][9]
A half-hour Youngblood animated series was planned for the 1995–96 season on Fox Kids as part of an hour block with a proposed Cyberforce series.[10] The series was being developed by Roustabout Productions, a newly formed animation company. According to Nick Dubois, creative director and co-founder of Roustabout, the series would take a lighthearted approach with tongue-in-cheek humor.[11] A clip was created but the series was never produced due to Fox Kids signing an exclusive deal with Marvel Comics. The clip aired in commercials for Youngblood action figures.
Television series
Cyberforce
A Cyberforce TV series was proposed aside with the Youngblood TV series, but was scrapped alongside it for the same reason.[citation needed]
Television series
Nigel Thornberry's Animal World
The Wild Thornberrys was initially pitched as an adult animated sitcom under the name, Nigel Thornberry's Animal World, and was to be co-produced by Fox Animation for Fox, but it was ultimately rejected. It was then picked up by Nickelodeon under its own animation studio and was retooled as a family-oriented series with Nigel's youngest daughter Eliza (originally named Alex) being promoted to the main protagonist role.
In 1995, animator Bill Kopp (creator of Fox Kids' Eek! the Cat) pitched an idea for an original adult animated film called Betty of the Jungle, in which he describes it as a sexy George of the Jungle about jungle warrior woman Betty (set to be voiced by Loni Anderson) and her gun-caring poodle (set to be voiced by Bruce Willis) who battle evil to protect their jungle village. After an animation test and conceptual artwork, Fox Animation declined to approve the project.[12][13]
Feature film
Dracula
At one time, Fox Animation had planned to produce an animated musical adaptation of Dracula.[14]
Television series
South Park
As Jesus vs. Santa became more popular, Parker and Stone began talks of developing the short into a television series about four children residing in the fictional Colorado town of South Park. Fox eagerly agreed to meet with the duo about the show's premise, having prided itself on edgier products such as Cops, The Simpsons, and The X-Files. However, during the meeting at the Fox office in Century City, disagreements between the two creators and the network began to arise, mainly over the latter's refusal to air a show that included a supporting talking stool character named Mr. Hankey. Some executives at 20th Century Fox Television (which was to produce the series) agreed with its then-sister network's stance on Mr. Hankey and repeatedly requested Parker and Stone to remove the character in order for the show to proceed. Refusing to meet their demands, the duo cut ties with Fox and its sister companies all together and began shopping the series somewhere else.
In their first partnership with Blue Sky Studios, their first feature film with them was an adaptation of the children's book Santa Calls by William Joyce.[15][16] The story was to tell of Santa Claus asking three gifted children to help him defeat an army of dark elves and save Christmas.
Feature film
Goosebumps
Back in 1998, Tim Burton was attached to produce a film adaptation of the Goosebumps children's horror books by R.L. Stine. It was going to be produced by 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Pictures, but was later scrapped because it did not materialize since they could not find a script they liked or determine which book or monster to adapt. Years later, in 2015, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation made a Goosebumps film directed by Rob Letterman, along with a sequel in 2018.
In 1999, Fox Animation had optioned Barlowe's Inferno by Wayne Barlowe into a potential adult animated film that would follow one man's journey into Hell.[17]
Feature film
Rhapsody
Fox Animation had intended to produce an animated film based on the first installment of the Rhapsody trilogy by Elizabeth Haydon. The story was to tell of a human girl named Rhapsody going on an epic quest with the warrior Achmed and a Firbolg named Grunthor.[18]
Fox Animation had been planning to produce an adult animated epic film set in Africa for which animator Will Makra posted conceptual artwork for.[19] Unfortunately, the project was cancelled when the studio was shut down due to the financial failure of Titan A.E..
In 2001, Joss Whedon and 20th Century Fox started the development of Buffy the Animated Series, an animated spin-off of Whedon's popular TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whedon and Jeph Loeb were to produce the show while many actors of the original series were attached to reprise their roles. It was initially planned to be aired in Fox Kids, possibly as early in February 2002,[25] but Fox Kids ceased to broadcast in September 2002. No network wanted to pick up the series,[26] which resulted in the abandonment of this project.
In September 2003, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios planned to adapt Tony Johnson and Mark Teague's children's book The Iguana Brothers: A Tale of Two Lizards into an animated film.[27]
Feature film
The Wainscott Weasel
In November 2003, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios planned to adapt Tor Seidler's children's book The Wainscott Weasel into an animated film,[28] but the project was shelved in 2006.[29]
In October 2006, Fox, Starz Animation, and Odyssey Entertainment announced Sheepish, with Odyssey obtaining the international rights, an CG animated family comedy about the brazen leader of a pack of macho wolves who undergoes karmic retribution when he is transformed into a sheep, to be directed by Daniel St. Pierre and Kevin Johnson, and written by Bart Coughlin.[30][31]Kristen Bell was also meant to voice a character.[32] Elements may have been recycled for Alpha and Omega and Sheep and Wolves.
In April 2008, Fox and Blue Sky acquired the film rights to the fantasy novel The Anubis Tapestry by Bruce Zick for an animated film titled Anubis. David H. Steinberg wrote the first draft for the film. The film was scheduled for release on July 15, 2016, but was pushed back to March 23, 2018, in favor of Ice Age: Collision Course,[33][34][35] but, by June 2017, it was removed from its schedule.[36] Blue Sky closed in April 2021, ending development on the film.[37]
In October 2009, EA and AIG announced an animated film adaptation of the video game Spore to be produced by Blue Sky Studios. Chris Wedge was attached to direct the proposed film.[38]
A planned Berenstain Bears feature film adaptation was announced in 2009 by 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Animation and Walden Media and director Shawn Levy, whose company 21 Laps was slated to produce the film. The project was envisioned as a comedy with both live action and animated elements, and an original storyline that would combine details from several Berenstain books. According to Levy: "I'd like the film to be un-ironic about its family connections but have a wry comedic sensibility that isn't oblivious to the fact that they're bears". Comparing it to the film Elf, Levy said he thought the Berenstain Bears film would be "witty but never sarcastic".[42] As of January 2012, the project was reportedly in the script phase,[43] but the company's option has since expired.
In 2011, Blue Sky Studios announced a film adaptation of the comic strip, Mutts.[46] Patrick McDonnell and his brother Robert McDonnell were hired to write the script, while Patrick was attached as executive producer.[47] In late 2014, Patrick delivered the final draft of the film script, which was then, according to him, on a drawing board.[48][49] Blue Sky closed in April 2021, ending development on the film.[37]
By February 2011, 20th Century Fox Animation was developing an animated feature film based on the Mr. Men book series, with Shawn Levy producing the film through his company 21 Laps Entertainment.[50] Fox Animation acquired the film rights to the Mr. Men Little Miss characters in January 2015.[51]
In September 2012, Fox Animation optioned graphic novelist Doug TenNapel's published Graphix novel Cardboard, with plans for actor Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures, Doug TenNapel and the Gotham Group to be executive producers for the film. Fox planned to have the picture developed under its WedgeWorks subsidiary. WedgeWorks director Chris Wedge (Ice Age) was producing, and considered directing the film as well.[52]
In 2012, Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, had announced the possibility for an animated film to be based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever as the next installment. In an interview for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Kinney stated that he was working with Fox on a half-hour special based on Cabin Fever, which was scheduled to air in late 2014.[55][56] The special was meant to be an animated production developed at 20th Century Fox Animation, and had begun development while Kinney worked in the live-action films. No news emerged regarding the development of the TV special and was presumably canceled. Instead, an animated film adaptation of the book released on Disney+ on December 8, 2023.[57][58]
During Comic-Con 2013 held in July, American Dad! co-creator Mike Barker revealed its film project which would take place on Roger's planet and may take place in the future. Barker did not announce any specifics as it relates to the nature and type of film he and the rest of the show's creators had in mind for the series, but he strongly suggested that a film is where the show's staff and creators would like to take things.[59] At Comic-Con 2022, co-creator Matt Weitzman revealed that plans for a feature film were scrapped.[60]
Director Jorge Gutierrez revealed in an interview that one of the ideas for the next chapter in the story involves Joaquin and his relationship with his father. The first film was about Manolo, the second was to be about Joaquín and the third one about Maria, conceiving it as a trilogy.[61] By June 2017, Gutierrez and Reel FX Animation began the development on the sequel, but two years later, Gutierrez clarified on Twitter that there are currently no plans for a sequel.[62][63]
By September 2015, Chernin Entertainment and Capcom began developing a Mega Man film with Peter Chernin producing along with Mike Ireland and Ryan Harrigan and David Ready and Michael Finfer overseeing the film.[64][65] It was unknown whether or not it was going to be set as a live-action/animated film at the time. In July 2017, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman were hired to write and direct the film with Masi Oka producing.[66] Following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 20th Century Fox's parent company, 21st Century Fox in March 2019, the film along with numerous video game-based films in development at Fox were cancelled in August.[67] On October 29, Capcom indicated to investors in a semi-annual report that the film is still in development at Disney.[68]Mattson Tomlin was hired to rewrite the script for Capcom and Chernin Entertainment.[69] In April 2020, Peter Chernin and Chernin Entertainment signed to a non-exclusive first-look feature film producing deal with Netflix.[70][71] After Disney put the project on turnaround, Netflix acquired it.
In November 2015, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to produce a film based on Kazu Kibuishi's book series of the same name, which was previously in development under Warner Bros.[72] A year later on June 20, Aron Coleite signed on to direct.[73] In June 2021, Kazu Kibuishi confirmed on Twitter that the film was cancelled and the film rights had lapsed back to him.[74] On October 17, 2024, Netflix acquired the film rights to Amulet, with Jason Fuchs attached to co-write with Kibuishi (who will also serve as an executive producer), while Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine will produce under 21 Laps Entertainment.[75]
In June 2016, Archer creator and executive producer Matt Thompson and executive producer Casey Willis discussed the possibility of a feature-length film with The Daily Beast. According to Thompson, this discussion happens "once every two years" among Reed and the producers, although work on the project would likely not begin until after the show ends.[76] They cited Jon Hamm as their ideal choice of actor to portray Sterling if it is commissioned as a live-action adaptation.[76] The series would end in December 2023, ending any plans of a feature film adaption.[citation needed]
20th Century Fox was producing an animated feature film based on the comic book series Mouse Guard by David Petersen. The story was described as a fantasy epic about a group of medieval mice sworn to protect their fellow rodents from dangerous forces. Wes Ball was director while Andy Serkis, Idris Elba, Samson Kayo, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Jack Whitehall were attached to star. In April 2019, following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the project was cancelled two weeks before production was to begin.[77] In the following June, Ball and concept artist Derek Zabrocki posted pre-visualization artwork and a proof of concept demo reel.[78]
By November 2016, Tonko House and Fox Animation were co-producing an animated film based on the Academy Award-nominated short film.[79] However, due to the acquisition of 20th Century Fox to Disney, Kondo and Tsutsumi decided to bring the project back to Tonko House, in which the directors would resume finding a new studio partner.[80]
Feature film
The Royal Rabbits of London
By April 2016, 20th Century Fox Animation was developing The Royal Rabbits of London, based on the book series of the same name by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore.[81]
In May 2017, FXX placed a series order for an animated series based on Deadpool, to be co-produced by Marvel Television, Marvel Animation, Fox Television Animation, FX Productions, and ABC Signature Studios. Donald Glover and his brother Stephen Glover were announced as showrunners, executive producers, and writers for the series.[84] In late March 2018, FXX decided not to move forward with the series due to creative differences.[85] Stephen Glover later admitted that the "creative difference" in question involved an episode revolving around Taylor Swift which FXX stated was the "last straw" and that they wanted to give Rick and Morty "a run for its money".[86]
In May 2017, 20th Century Fox Animation announced a film adaptation of Molly Ostertag's graphic novel The Witch Boy. The story is set in a world where girls are born as witches and boys are born as shapeshifters, and one boy named Aster breaks that by becoming a witch.[88] After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, the project was sold to Netflix Animation, to be an animated musical and animator Minkyu Lee's directorial debut.[89] In April 2024, it was reported that Lee left as director.[90]
In April 2017, 20th Century Fox Animation announced an animated film adaptation of Adam Kline's fantasy book Escape from Hat with Mark Osborne set to direct and co-write the script with Kline, and Jinko Gotoh producing the film along with Osborne.[91] By November 2018, Netflix acquired the film.[92][93] In August 2023, it was reported that the film was no longer in development at Netflix Animation.[94]
In May 2018, Martino was attached to direct an animated film based on Michelle Cuevas' novel Confessions of an Imaginary Friend, for Blue Sky Studios with Tripper Clancy writing the script.[95] The film was revived in 2021 at Disney Television Animation as part of the promotion of Lisa Fragner after Blue Sky Studios closed that April, and is scheduled for release as a Disney+ original film.[37][96][97]
Feature film
Foster
An animated fantasy musical film from Blue Sky Studios was announced in 2018 under the working title Foster, with Tim Federle to pen the script, Marc Platt (La La Land) to produce, Karen Disher and Steve Martino to direct and Pasek and Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman and 2019 version of Aladdin) to write the songs for the film.[98][99][100] It was scheduled to release on March 5, 2021, but following Disney's acquisition of Fox in May 2019, the film was removed from the release schedule.[101] Blue Sky closed in April 2021, ending development of the film.[37]
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