（Image Source: Vanity Fair, Walt Disney Pictures）
While promoting the 4K restoration of "Se7en," director David Fincher has been discussing various unmade film projects with the media. Just days ago, he revealed he had been in talks to direct a "Harry Potter" film. In a separate interview published by Letterboxd, Fincher delved into the long-shelved new adaptation of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" he was once slated to make with Walt Disney Pictures and frequent collaborator Brad Pitt, explaining the factors behind the remake's demise.
（Image Source: Walt Disney Pictures）
Fincher explained that he was genuinely eager to make "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," but his vision ultimately diverged too much from Disney's. He stated, "Look, I really wanted to make it. We had conceived a story that was a bit disgusting, stylish, humid, and steampunk-esque. But I later got to make 'Bad Travelling' in 'Love, Death & Robots,' which had a similar vibe, so that scratched a bit of the itch. It's fine that I only made 'Bad Travelling.' You can't force others to be excited about the risks you want to take. Disney's thinking at the time was, 'We need to ensure your film has marketable elements from beginning to end, and you must meet the conditions we set.'"
（Image Source: Wikipedia）
Fincher then recounted his response to Disney: "'You've read Jules Verne's original novel, right?' (laughs). 'This is a story about an Indian prince who is angry about white imperialism, and that's what we want to focus on.' Their attitude then became, 'Okay, whatever, just significantly reduce these elements.' So I eventually felt, 'Listen, I can't be vague about this, and I don't want you to attend the premiere and realize what kind of film you've actually invested in. It makes no sense, because it will only lead to a difficult two-year production period.' I didn't want to do that; life is too precious."
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Disney first adapted "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" in 1954. In 2010, Fincher and "Contagion" screenwriter Scott Z. Burns were brought in to develop a new version. Fincher initially wanted Brad Pitt to play the harpooner Ned Land, but Pitt declined due to dissatisfaction with the script. Disney then considered casting Chris Hemsworth, who was on the cusp of stardom, but Fincher preferred Channing Tatum. Evidently, the creative differences between Fincher and Disney, both in story and casting, created a significant chasm that neither party could ultimately bridge.
via： Letterboxd