7. Al Pacino - Untitled Noriega Project
Having wrapped up his Vietnam trilogy in iffy fashion with Heaven & Earth, director Oliver Stone took his next project to sunny Panama to focus on the life and times of the county's leader, Manuel Noriega. Intending to focus on the last four years of the toppled dictators time in power, which culminated in the USA invasion of the country back in 1989, Stone spent time and money scouting locations, as well as visiting Noriega in the clink. With Al Pacino signed up and in the rehearsal phase to star as the strongman dictator, it seemed that another rollicking piece of cinematic faction from Stone seemed to be well and truly underway. But alas, the project ground to a halt in 1994 with sources citing the tone of the movie, Noriega's credibility and even Pacinos box office pull following the low return on Carlito's Way being the reason for its demise. Whatever the reason, the plug had been well and truly pulled, with Stone and the studio left with picking up the bill detailed in Pacinos pay or play clause, which was reportedly around the $10 million mark. Thankfully, Pacino was a good egg and offered to waive the fee in return for the gentlemens promise that he would be able to work with Stone sometime in the future. This promise was fulfilled five years later with football flick, Any Given Sunday, while fans of Caribbean history got a dodgy Showtime biopic of Noriegas life with Bob Hoskins in the starring role. More on him later.