2) Rendezvous With Rama
What is it?
An adaptation of the influential Arthur C. Clarke novel of the same name, Rendezvous With Rama is a science fiction story set in the 22nd century. A giant, 16 kilometer-long cylinder of unknown origin passes through the Solar System, prompting Earth’s greatest powers to send a team of astronauts and scientists out to investigate. Inside the alien craft is a whole living, breathing world to explore.
David Fincher almost directed this at one point, but unfortunately had to drop out.
Why it could escape development hell:
Basically, because Morgan Freeman won’t let it go. David Fincher getting attached to a project then dropping out is, as we know by now, par for the course (he was supposed to make a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea adaptation around the time he was attached to Rama, and this year he actually filmed half of a HBO series before the project fell through). Freeman was Fincher’s star, and he remains the head honcho of the project, telling Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2012, “We ARE going to make that movie.” Apparently it’s just the right script we’re waiting on now.