10 Movies They Keep Saying Will Be Made (That Never Will)

Cursed movies are always fun to talk about, but perhaps there’s something real – and deadly – to the curse of the Confederacy of Dunces film? Originally planned back in 1981 when the novel – written by John Kennedy Toole, who killed himself before the book found a publisher – won a Pulitzer, many in Hollywood believe this to be the ultimate cursed project.

The first actor attached to the adaptation of the now classic novel was John Belushi, and he was set to star in a version directed by Harold Ramis. Once Belushi died, John Candy came in to replace him, but then he died. Chris Farley was next to sign onto the role, and then he died as well.

Years later the film was still being planned, this time with Will Ferrell (who didn’t die) in the lead role. The cameras were set to role in New Orleans – where the novel takes place – until the head of the Louisiana State Film Commission was murdered and Hurricane Katrina all but destroyed the city and the planned filming locations.

Many directors and actors came and went since then, including a James Bobin and Zach Galifianakis pairing, an adaptation by Stephen Fry, a version where Jack Black played the lead, one where John Goodman was the star, and a Steven Soderbergh directed version, and none of them came to fruition.

Finally it was Soderbergh who in 2013 said what everyone was thinking, “I think it’s cursed. I’m not prone to superstition, but that project has got bad mojo on it.”