Getting a professional film made these days can be a difficult process. There’s writing the movie, casting, financing, filming, editing, and releasing the film, which each involves their difficulties and problems. Sometimes, it’s a miracle when a film makes it to the finish line, andcountless films have not been so lucky. But it’s even more of a miracle when a film that has been in development for a long period not only gets released but also is good enough that it was worth the wait.
More often than not, when a film escapes development hell, it can be a jumbled mess since production faces so many difficulties. But there are exceptions to the rule,where a project finds new life and reminds people of the joys of seeing a finished film on the big screen. Whether they’re long-in-development sequels, breathtaking original projects, or new takes on beloved classics, not all films that have escaped from development hell are masterpieces, but they are always something special to see.
10‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ (2000)
Directed by Mark Dindal
During the tail-end of the Disney Renaissance, production began on a little film calledKingdom of the Sun.Originally planned as a Prince and the Pauper-type musical of anInca prince and a llama herder switching places, the planned film was something that more closely resembled the likes ofPocahontasandHercules. But when the film was tested before the studio executives, it quickly became apparent the movie wasn’t coming together the way they wanted it to.
After multiple disastrous test screenings, the project was handed over toCats Don’t DancedirectorMark Dindal, who drastically reworked the project into something that resembled classicLooney Tunesmore than classic Disney,as told by Polygon. While it is tragic that the original plan forKingdom of the Sunnever worked out,The Emperor’s New Grooveis still one of Disney’s funniest movies. It may not be as emotionally impactful asThe Lion KingorBeauty and the Beast, but it hasa comfortably fast-paced tone, a fun cast of characters, and a borderline anarchistic sense of humor.
The Emperor’s New Groove
9‘Deadpool’ (2016)
Directed by Tim Miller
Deadpoolis a superhero with an R-rated sensibility, witha cavalier, far less outwardly moral attitudethan other Marvel characters. This did not make him a popular choice among 20th Century Fox executives when they began planningX-Menspin-offs in the wake ofThe Last Stand. While his on-screen debut inX-Men Origins: Wolverinewas not the most well-received take on the character, the promise of a far more comic book-accurate film hung in the air for years,asE! Onlinediscusses, spurred on by the passion of directorTim Millerand starRyan Reynolds.
But the executives wouldn’t budge until July 2014, afteran animated test reel leaked online to an extremely enthusiastic response. While Fox gave the crew a minuscule budget compared to other superhero films, it came with the caveat that they could make the film however they wanted to. This largely turned out for the best, as not only is theDeadpoolmovie the perfect introduction to the Merc With the Mouth, but, for the time, it also became the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history.
8‘Barbie’ (2023)
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Despite the world’s most popular doll having an extensive back catalog of animated films and series,Barbienever had a live-action film until her big-budget blockbuster in 2023. Mattel attempted deals with various studios, including Cannon Films, Universal, and Sony over 20 years, courting writers such asDiablo Codyand stars such asAmy Schumer,Gal Gadot, andAnne Hathaway. Eventually, the property made its way to Warner Bros., with acclaimed directorGreta Gerwig, co-writerNoah Baumbach, and starMargot Robbieattached to the project, asVulturereported.
To say the wait had been worth it would be an understatement.Barbieis a gleefully post-modern fantasy that serves as good, campy fun while also having a relevant message. Gerwig’s sensibility for strong storytelling allows fora subversive adaptation that still pays respect to its source material.The film not only showswhy Barbie perseveres as an ideawhile acknowledging her flaws, but also uses Ken’s (Ryan Gosling) story-line to serve as a playful take-down of toxic masculinity.
7‘Watchmen’ (2009)
Directed by Zack Snyder
Since the release ofWatchmenin 1986-87, there have been many attempts to bring the most acclaimed graphic novel in history to the screen. The rights were originally purchased in 1986 by 20th Century Fox, but the difficulty of adapting a 12-issue graphic novel into a 2-hour film led tomultiple writers and directors (including Terry Gilliam)coming and going. The project would be thrown around multiple studios, with the likes of Paramount, Warner Bros, and Universal getting the rights, all the while many, including series co-creatorAlan Mooredeemed the work “unfilmable”, asGizmodoreported.
Eventually, Warner Bros hired 300 directorZack Snyderto helm the film, and barring some legal troubles from the aforementioned studios, filming went relatively smoothly.Watchmenwas released in 2009 toa divisive yet mostly positive response from critics and fans of the graphic novel. While some of the nuances of the novel are lost in favor of more traditionally superhero-esque action, the film keeps the grounded tone of the source material and has pitch-perfect casting withJackie Earle Haleyas Rorschach.
6‘Jurassic World’ (2015)
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Jurassic Parkas a franchise has certainly seen its ups and downs, but the production for a fourthJurassic Parkfilm was a long and painful one. A rotating list of directors and writers came on to the project, withideas for sequels that includeddinosaur/human hybrids, dinosaurs that fight drug dealers. Some ideas, including Alan Grant (Sam Neil) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) returning, dinosaurs finding their way to the mainland, andSteven Spielberg’s’ own idea for a dinosaur-training human would eventually be used throughout the sequel trilogy.
But a specific follow-up with the premise of a dinosaur park that has finally opened was set for release in 2015, withColin Trevorrowset to direct. None of the otherJurassic Parkfilms have managed to touch the original masterpiece, butJurassic Worldstill has a sense of adventure and fun. While the human characters can feel pretty one-note, seeing the park open at last was a joy to witness, and the final fight betweenthe T. rex and the Indominus is the best endingto any of the sequels, asDigital Spydiscusses.
Jurassic World
Directed by George Miller
Legendary directorGeorge Millergot an idea for a sequel to his belovedMad Maxfranchise that focused on one giant chase as far back as 1987,fine-tuning the idea ashe worked on other films throughout the 90s. He began pre-production in the early 2000s, with series leadMel Gibsonstill attached to star. However, due to a series of difficultiesreported by the likes ofSlashfilm, including the fallout from 9/11, Gibson’s public controversies, and commitment toHappy Feet,Fury Roadwas put on hold. WhileTom Hardywas brought on board to play Max and filming was scheduled to begin in Broken Hill, Australia, unexpected rainfall led the production to move to South Africa.
Principal photography in the Namib Desert was difficult for the cast and crew, withHardy and Miller running into frequent disagreements and filming running drastically over budget. After two years of editing, the film was finally released to an overwhelmingly positive reception. Nominated for 10 Oscars,Mad Max: Fury Roadhas already cemented itself as one of the greatest action films in history.
Mad Max: Fury Road
4‘Mary Poppins Returns’ (2018)
Directed by Rob Marshall
With a gap of 54 years,Mary Poppins Returnsholds the distinction of having the longest interval between cinematic sequels in history. While the originalMary Poppinswas a hit, Disney’s infamous disagreements with authorP.L. Traversprevented a sequel from coming to pass, leading to projects that tried to fill that gap, such asBedknobs and BroomsticksandPete’s Dragon. AsFilm Storiesdiscussed, whenJeffrey Katzenberg became chairman of the Disney studiosin the late 80s, he proposed an idea for a sequel to Travers, but disagreements between the two parties and an eventual regime change led tothe project being put on hold again.
Eventually, the long-awaited sequel was green-lit in 2015, withChicagoandInto the WoodsdirectorRob Marshallbrought on board.Mary Poppins Returnsdoesn’t reach the heights of the original classic, but it still has a charm of its own with a fun tone, wonderful songs written by Hairspray composersMarc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, anda practically perfect performance fromEmily Bluntas the titular magical nanny.
Mary Poppins Returns
3‘Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro
Guillermo Del Torois no stranger to fantastical projects that never work out, so it was a relief for many of his fans when his take onPinocchiofound its way into reality. But, asVanity Fairpointed out,Del Toro’s vision for his passion projectdid not involve magic blue fairies or wise crickets teaching a sweet young puppet how to become a real boy through obedience. Rather, he wanted it set in fascist, Mussolini Italy, with themes of loss, death, andhow disobedience can actually be a virtue, not a sin.
Unfortunately, most studios either rejected the project due to its themes and stop-motion animation or wanted more of a traditional take on the story. The film seemed doomed until frequent Del Toro collaborator Netflix stepped in and bought the rights in 2018. With a visual aesthetic inspired by illustratorGris Grimly’s more asymmetrical, misshapen take on the character, and a script co-written byOver the Garden WallcreatorPatrick McHalethat examines what it means to be more than just “a real boy”,Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchiois his best animated project yet.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
2‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
Directed by Joel Crawford
Lauded as one of the greatest animated sequels in history,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishcame 11 years after the previous film. Originally planned as a 1001 Arabian Nights-inspired magic quest, word on the project went quiet for several years, owing largely thanks to the purchase of Dreamworks Animation by NBCUniversal in 2016 and the appointment of Illumination Founder and CEOChrisMelandandrias an executive producer,as reported byVariety. After switching multiple directors,The Croods: A New AgedirectorJoel Crawfordcame on board,adjusting the story to have a darker tonewith a stronger thematic bent than its predecessor.
While it didn’t have the strongest opening weekend box office, word of mouth quickly helped it become one of 2022’s highest-grossing films.Outdoing its predecessor in every way,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishnot only reignited excitement for theShrekfranchise but kick-started a renewed interest in DreamWorks Animation as a whole.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
1‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ (2015)
Directed by Jeff Fowler
Even before the controversy regarding the title character’s original design began, the road to bringingSonic the Hedgehogto the big screen was a long and difficult one.Beginning in 1993,a film adaptation of the gamesbegan developmentduring the production of both animated 90s Sonic shows. As the years passed, studios such as MGM, DreamWorks, and Sony had the rights to the property, the latter hiringJeff Fowlerin what would become his directorial debut.
Eventually, the film was brought to Paramount, with the creative team hired by Sony remaining intact. While filming went smoothly, the film was thrown into production issues once again when the first trailer was released, with the juvenile tone and the design of Sonic (Ben Schwartz) being especially criticized. The film’s release date was delayed by 3 months to change the design, whichreceived a much more positive response from fansand critics,reported byVulture. While the firstSonic the Hedgehogfilm is far from groundbreaking, the title character is both visually appealing and fun to follow;Jim Carrey’s performance as Dr. Robotnik is one of his best and the story is genuinely heartfelt.
