Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn tried to make a new version of the famous TV show Gilligan’s Island with a very sinister twist.
After the original Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn said he tried to resurrect writer Charlie Kaufman’s pitch for a movie version of Gilligan’s Island where the inhabitants of the island are trying to kill and eat each other to survive.
A true story: In the late 90’s screenwriting GOAT Charlie Kaufman pitched a movie version of Gilligan’s Island where the islanders, starving & desperate, started killing & eating each other. Warner Bros wanted to do it – but Sherwood Schwartz, the creator, said no way.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 13, 2021
After Guardians I tried to resurrect the idea & wanted to direct. It seemed Warners & Charlie were interested but, this time, the estate of the late Sherwood Schwartz nixed it. Anyway, if the Schwartz estate changes their mind, I’m here.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 13, 2021
Gunn revealed that Kaufman pitched this to Warner Bros. in the late ’90s as a movie, and the studio wanted to make it. However, series creator Sherwood Schwartz shut it down.
After it initially got shot down, Gunn attempted to resurrect the project and direct it himself. Warner Bros. and Kaufman were interested again, but the Schwartz’s estate “nixed it,” Gunn said. “Anyway, if the Schwartz estate changes their mind, I’m here,” the director said.
Gilligan’s Island ran for three seasons from 1964-1967 on CBS. It follows the misadventures of a group of castaways on an island and their attempts to survive and escape, with Gilligan (Bob Denver) usually doing something stupid to prevent the group from getting off the island.
Schwartz, who also created The Brady Bunch, passed away in 2011. As for Kaufman, he is known for writing the movies Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (for which he won an Academy Award), among others. His latest work was 2020’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things for Netflix.
As for Gunn, he’s staying busy with other projects, including the Peacemaker TV series for HBO Max and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, both of which are expected to release in 2022. He’s also writing and directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for 2023.
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