Potential projects

The following is a **list of potential projects** that could be (or could have been) produced by Cruel & Unusual Films, Inc. or The Stone Quarry. Included are only projects that have been mentioned by Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, or Wesley Coller as genuine possibilities in some form. These are projects that have not been announced for production. For projects that have been officially confirmed, canceled or not, see the production list.

## Non-franchise projects

The following projects are ones not associated with existing franchises.

Amy Adams bodybuilder film
On the set of *Justice League*, Zack Snyder pulled Amy Adams aside to pitch her a concept he'd had for a while; that of a midwestern housewife who gets into bodybuilding. The change in lifestyle swings farther than her family expects and she ends up losing them. Zack believed that only an actor like Adams could pull off the kind of real-world bodybuilding required for this role based on her love of film and acting, and Adams was also apparently interested in the project. A script was never reportedly written.
Arthurian film
In February of 2021, Zack Snyder revealed that he'd been writing a faithful retelling of the Arthurian legend. A few months later he described it a little bit more, stating that it'd take place in America during the gold rush.

George Washington film
During the production of *Justice League*, Zack was considering making a George Washington film set during the Revolutionary War. A copy of Emanuel Leutze's *Washington Crossing the Delaware* hung in his office, which acted as his inspiration. The film would be in the style of *300*.
Napoleon Bonaparte film
A screenwriter friend of Zack's wrote a *Scarface*-style Napoleon movie script that Zack was considering making after *Army of the Dead*.
## *300* franchise

*Blood and Ashes*
***Blood and Ashes*** would have been the third film set in the world of *300*. Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad wrote the movie during the Covid-19 pandemic on request from Warner Bros., however they did not pick the project up. What started as the final piece of a trilogy became its own story as it developed, separate from the main plot of the franchise, but part of the same world. The film would have been a love story about Alexander the Great's relationship with Hephaestion during a time of war. It likely would have been a loose adaptation of the Alexander the Great segments from Frank Miller's *Xerxes*. In 2023, the Stone Quarry gained the movie rights from Warner Bros. and may shop it around to different studios in the future.
## DC Extended Universe

*Zack Snyder's Justice League* sequels

Originally in production as a pair of movies, *Justice League* would have led into a direct sequel that would have closed the core arc of the DC Extended Universe. As the story developed, Snyder preferred splitting the second *Justice League* movie in two, resulting in a five-part arc from *Man of Steel* through the third *Justice League*. As presented at the end of *Zack Snyder's Justice League*, Darkseid would make his way to Earth in the sequels, successfully conquering the planet and sending it into the Knightmare timeline first seen in *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*. The Justice League would be tasked with putting together a plan to use the Flash (Ezra Miller)'s powers to travel back in time to warn Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) of the danger to prepare for it. It's the death of Lois Lane (Amy Adams) that makes Superman suceptible to Darkseid's anti-life equation, bending him to Darkseid's will and taking Earth's most powerful ally. Flash's warning would set forth a new timeline in which Batman is able to save Lois, giving Earth a fighting chance the second time around. Darkseid (Ray Porter) would have brought a number of powerful allies to help conquer Earth. Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) and some number of Green Lanterns would have joined the Justice League to defend the planet. Scott Stuber, head of films at Netflix, expressed interest in licensing the franchise for *The Hollywood Reporter*' Zack Snyder cover issue on November 29, 2023.
Superman film

In an interview with *BroBible* on May 10, 2021, Snyder revealed loose plans for a Superman movie set at some point after the events of *Man of Steel*. Brainiac, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), and Kryptonians from the Phantom Zone (Antje Traue, Richard Cetrone, etc.) were being considered for the antagonists. Lex would have been important to include as Superman's ultimate nemesis, but they were focusing on extra-terrestrial challenges as only those are big enough for the scale of Superman's power.

Atom film

On March 18, 2021, *Entertainment Weekly* published an interview with Zack Snyder in which Snyder confirmed that he had tried to get Warner Bros. to greenlight a film starring Ryan Zheng's character, Ryan Choi (the Atom), set in China with a predominently Chinese cast. First appearing in *Zack Snyder's Justice League*, Choi is the head of S.T.A.R. Labs in the DCEU, specializing in nanotechnology. The character is based on one of the same name from DC Comics who wears a suit that's able to shrink his body, which he uses to fight crime. This suit has not appeared in the cinematic universe.
## Other franchise adaptations

*Blood Meridian*

> "*Cobalt 60* is awesome, but I think really, if I could do anything... Well, the Bible. No, just kidding. There's a Cormac McCarthy book -- I don't know if anyone's heard of it -- called *Blood Meridian*. It's a Western and it's frigging ridiculous and it's awesome. Although, I think Tommy Lee Jones owns the rights. Someone owns the rights to it, so I'll never get it, but it's pretty awesome. But I recommend. Just as a read, it's an amazing book. But yeah, I think *Blood Meridian* would be cool. It'd be rated like MC-17 and no one would distribute it and there's no way to make it because it's crazy, but it'd be awesome to do."
>
> Zack Snyder, Sucker Punch Stockholm screening

On April 1, 2011, Snyder had a Q&A session for *Sucker Punch* in which he said *Blood Meridian* is the project he'd most want to adapt.
*Electra Lives Again*

> "I would choose Elektra Lives Again. Do you know that Frank Miller comic book? It's a graphic novel about Elektra. Daredevil is having these dreams about Elektra coming back to life and it's really cool and weird. . . it's just cool and beautiful. That's what I would do. No one cares, but that's what I would do."
>
> Zack Snyder, MovieWeb

When asked if any Marvel adaptations would interest him, Snyder chose *Elektra Lives Again*, written by Frank Miller.
*The Dark Knight Returns*

*Heavy Metal 3*

*Rick and Morty*
A longtime *Rick and Morty* fan, Snyder contacted series creator Dan Harmon about helping to get a *Rick and Morty* movie in production. Snyder did not express interest in directing the project, but rather, wanted to see one made and offered to help make that happen. Dan Harmon currently has loose plans to make a *Rick and Morty* animated movie. It's unknown if Zack Snyder would contribute to the project, especially in a credited capacity. Snyder previously mentioned the possibility of doing a *Rick and Morty* movie during the *Army of the Dead* promotional period on the *Vodka Stream* podcast, implying the possibility of directing it.
*Black Kiss*
Zack Snyder held the television rights to an adaptation of *Black Kiss*, a late-'80s comic by Howard Chaykin. Snyder wrote the pilot, but couldn't find any takers. *Black Kiss* tells the story of Dagmar Laine, a transsexual prostitute seeking a pornographic film from the Vatican's collection.
*Fortnite*
When asked if he'd be interested in directing a *Fortnite* movie, Snyder said he would.

> "Of course. I really wanted to make some *Fortnite* skins for [*Rebel Moon*], first of all, just like as the most obviously basic involvement. But yeah, look, *Fortnite* is an amazing world, and it is an amazing distraction for me. But it's really cool, and the alchemy that they've created there is really unique. When I started playing it, I thought I knew what it was, and then it was something entirely different."
>
> Zack Snyder, Etalk

*James Bond*
When asked if he'd be interested in tackling another pre-existing franchise, Snyder said he'd like to see a James Bond origin story.
## References

1. ↑ Robbie Collin. "Zack Snyder: 'I've always wanted to make a religious film – and a pornographic film'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved on May 21, 2021. “It's a kind of female version of *The Wrestler* about a midwestern housewife who happens to have a pretty good body and starts to do some bodybuilding competitions, and then falls down a rabbit hole of steroids and hormones.”
2. ↑ Rebecca Vanacker. "Zack Snyder Is Writing His King Arthur Movie Set During The Gold Rush". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved on May 20, 2021. “Director Zack Snyder is currently working on a King Arthur movie, now revealing it's set during the Gold Rush era.”
3. ↑ Devin Leonard. "Zack Snyder's Superhero Life". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved on March 1, 2016. “One of these days, he'd like to make one about George Washington in the style of *300*.”
4. ↑ Donnia Harrington. "Exclusive: An Interview with Zack Snyder". Cinema Debate. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved on May 20, 2019. “There's even a script written by his screenwriter friend for a Napoleon movie 'in the form of *Scarface'* being considered.”
5. ↑ Brian Davids. "'Rebel Moon' Co-Writer Kurt Johnstad Talks Part One's R-Rated Cut and Nonstop Action of 'Part Two'". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved on December 28, 2023. “During Covid, in March of 2020, [Snyder] called me. We had just finished working together on another project called *Blood and Ashes*. . .”
6. ↑ Charles Barfield. "Zack Snyder Wrote The 'Final Chapter' Of '300' During Lockdown But WB Passed On It". The Playlist. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved on May 17, 2021. “I was writing this thing about Alexander the Great, and it just turned into a movie about the relationship between Hephaestion and Alexander.”
7. ↑ Borys Kit. "Zack Snyder Regains Rights to 'Blood and Ashes,' Script Originally Pitched as a '300' Sequel (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved on December 1, 2023. “'We got the rights back so we can make if we want it,' Snyder said during an interview for this week's THR cover story. 'I don't know what the marketplace is for an incredibly homoerotic, super violent, super sexual movie, but maybe it's perfect.'”
8. ↑ Josh Grossberg. "Zack Snyder Talks Losing Creative Control of Justice League and Idea for... a Batman-Lois Lane Love Affair?". SYFY. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved on February 22, 2021. “The intention was that Bruce fell in love with Lois and then realized that the only way to save the world was to bring Superman back to life.”
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Clark Collis. "Zack Snyder breaks down the ending of Justice League". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved on March 18, 2021. “Yeah. I had been pitching Warners to do an Atom movie with him in China, like a Chinese-cast superhero movie.”
10. ↑ Borys Kit. "Zack Snyder Regains Rights to 'Blood and Ashes,' Script Originally Pitched as a '300' Sequel (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved on December 1, 2023. “'Obviously we would like to license [Zack Snyder's DC story] at some point,' Stuber said. 'We'd love to have it on so that fans can experience more Zack. The more Zack we have the better we are.'”
11. ↑ Eric Ital. "Zack Snyder Reveals Who The Villains In A Direct 'Man of Steel' Sequel Would've Been". BroBible. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved on May 10, 2021. “I just think it’s best to give Superman these extaterrestrial challenges. . . because of how powerful he is.”
12. ↑ Ryan Scott. "Elektra Lives Again Is the Marvel Movie Zack Snyder Wants to Make". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved on January 6, 2021. “I would choose Elektra Lives Again.”
13. ↑ Lacey Rose. "Dan Harmon Teases 'Rick and Morty' Movie, Future Plans". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved on October 11, 2023. “Not him saying, 'I get to do it,' or anything like that. He was totally a super fan and was just like, 'Is there any way I can help get that movie started by using my Snyder-ness?'”
14. ↑ Borys Kit. "Zack Snyder Regains Rights to 'Blood and Ashes,' Script Originally Pitched as a '300' Sequel (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved on December 1, 2023. “What is no longer in play, however, is an adaptation of controversial Howard Chaykin comic *Black Kiss*. Snyder had the rights to the comic, published in the late 1980s and had taken a stab at adapting it as a television series, even going as far as writing a pilot.”
15. ↑ Zack Sharf. "Zack Snyder's 007? 'It Would Be Cool to See a 20-Year Old James Bond…There Has to Be Something There,' Says the Director". *Variety*. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved on December 27, 2023. “It'd be cool to see, like, 20-year-old James Bond. The humble roots that he comes from. Whatever trauma of youth that makes you be able to be James Bond. There has to be something there.”