Editing Kevin Smith (section)

===Abandoned and stalled TV and film projects===
{{main|Kevin Smith's unrealized projects}}
In 1996, Smith worked on a script for a planned [[Superman]] film tentatively titled ''[[Superman film series#Superman Lives|Superman Lives]]''. He wrote several drafts but was dropped from the project when [[Tim Burton]] was hired to direct and brought his own team to write the script; Burton's attempt was later abandoned as well. Smith publicly discussed his experience working on the script at a Q&A session at [[Clark University]] shown on the 2002 DVD ''[[An Evening with Kevin Smith]]''. In the Q&A, he said the experience was positive overall, since he loves Superman and was paid well. But he listed a number of unusual demands that producer [[Jon Peters]] made, including that Superman not be shown flying or wearing tights, and that he should battle a giant spider at the end of the film. Smith noted that he went to see the 1999 film ''[[Wild Wild West]]'', which Peters produced, and was surprised to see a giant mechanical spider at the end of the film, presumably Peters's handiwork. Smith's description of his experience gained a life of its own, with film critic [[A.O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' calling it "extraordinary".<ref>Doctorow, Cory (April 27, 2009). [http://boingboing.net/2009/04/27/kevin-smith-explains.html "Kevin Smith explains what happened to his Superman movie"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928071150/http://boingboing.net/2009/04/27/kevin-smith-explains.html |date=September 28, 2011 }}. [[Boing Boing]].</ref><ref>[[Scott, A.O.]] (September 22, 2011). [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/movies/kevin-smiths-red-state-review.html?_r=0 "Director Hates Stupidity, Hypocrisy and Critics "Kevin Smith's 'Red State'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081752/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/movies/kevin-smiths-red-state-review.html?_r=0 |date=December 1, 2017 }}. ''The New York Times''.</ref> In the 2007 direct-to-DVD animated film ''[[Superman: Doomsday]]'', Smith has a cameo as an onlooker in a crowd that alludes to this anecdote: after Superman defeats [[Toyman (comics)|The Toyman]]'s giant mechanical robot, Smith scoffs, "Yeah, like we really needed him to defeat that giant spider. Heh. ''Lame!''"

In the early '00s, Smith was said to be writing ''[[Fletch Won (film)|Fletch Won]]'', a prequel to the [[Chevy Chase]] film ''[[Fletch (film)|Fletch]]'', and was set to direct with Jason Lee in the lead role, but the plans ultimately came to nothing. Smith cited Miramax not seeing Lee's box-office appeal (in an ''Entertainment Weekly'' article covering the delays, Smith claimed Harvey Weinstein continually refused it personally or suggested he focus more on the disguises of the character in a matter similar to ''[[Austin Powers]]'', Smith admitting incredulity that Harvey refused even after Lee was frequently seen in billboards and posters in the city at the time, to promote his new show ''[[My Name is Earl]]'', but admitting that Harvey's vision for the film clearly did not include Lee) as a reason for its abandonment. For a time, Ben Affleck was considered for the role, with Chase framing the action as the narrator, looking back on his early adventures.

In 2004, Smith wrote a screenplay for a film adaptation of ''[[The Green Hornet]]'', and announced that he intended to direct it.<ref>[http://www.viewaskew.com/news/feb04/1.html 'Hornet' buzzes Smith] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104190520/http://www.viewaskew.com/news/feb04/1.html |date=January 4, 2009 }} News Askew. Retrieved November 29, 2008.</ref> The project died after the poor box office of ''[[Jersey Girl (2004 film)|Jersey Girl]]''; the screenplay was later turned into a ''Green Hornet'' comic book miniseries.<ref name=PopEWGH>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/05/13/kevin-smith-com/|title=EW Exclusive: Kevin Smith takes on Batman and the Green Hornet|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 13, 2009|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> (A live-action film adaptation, ''[[The Green Hornet (2011 film)|The Green Hornet]]'', was released in 2011, with no involvement from Smith.)

At the 2007 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], it was announced that Smith would write and direct an episode of the ''[[Heroes (American TV series)|Heroes]]'' spin-off ''[[Heroes (American TV series)#Heroes: Origins|Heroes: Origins]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=342|title=The Guy Who Ruined "Heroes" |publisher=My Boring Ass Life |first=Kevin |last=Smith |date=July 30, 2007 |access-date=November 9, 2008}}</ref> but the project was canceled because of the [[2007 Writers Guild of America strike]].

Smith planned to direct a hockey drama-comedy based on [[Warren Zevon]]'s song "[[My Ride's Here|Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)]]". The song, about a hockey player famous for fighting in the rink, was co-written by [[Mitch Albom]], who worked with Smith on the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2432136/exclusive-kevin-smith-making-hockey-movie-with-mitch-albom-based-on-warren-zevon-song-hit-somebody/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Smith Making Hockey Movie With Mitch Albom Based On Warren Zevon Song 'Hit Somebody'|publisher=MTV|date=May 14, 2009|access-date=March 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326180506/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/05/14/exclusive-kevin-smith-making-hockey-movie-with-mitch-albom-based-on-warren-zevon-song-hit-somebody/|archive-date=March 26, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Smith announced at the 2011 Sundance premiere of ''[[Red State (2011 film)|Red State]]'' that ''Hit Somebody'' would be the last film he directed, but that he would continue to tell stories in other media.<ref name=NYPost>Stewart, Sara (March 3, 2011). [https://nypost.com/2011/03/04/kevin-can-wait/ "Kevin can wait"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224210356/https://nypost.com/2011/03/04/kevin-can-wait/ |date=February 24, 2020 }}. ''[[New York Post]]''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fernandez |first1=Jay A. |last2=Miller |first2=Daniel |title=SUNDANCE: 'Red State's' Kevin Smith Buys Own Film for $20 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sundance-red-states-kevin-smith-74829/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 18, 2022 |date=January 23, 2011}}</ref> In August 2011, ''Hit Somebody'' was announced as a two-part film titled ''Hit Somebody: Home'' and ''Hit Somebody: Away'', with part one rated PG-13 and part two rated R,<ref>{{cite web | last = Jagernauth | first = Kevin | title = Kevin Smith Names His Two-Part Films: 'Hit Somebody: Home' & 'Away'; Wants Part 2 To Be R-Rated |website= The Playlist| date = January 26, 2011 | access-date = January 28, 2011|url=https://theplaylist.net/kevin-smith-names-his-two-part-films-hit-somebody-home-wants-part-2-to-be-r-rated-20110829/|df = mdy-all }}</ref> but later it became one film again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/519212/kevin-smith-tweets-hit-somebody-updates-start-date-run-time-premiere/ |title=Kevin Smith Tweets 'Hit Somebody' Updates: Possible Start Date, Run Time And Premiere'|publisher=/Film|date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> In December 2012, Smith announced that, due to difficulties finding funding, ''Hit Somebody'' would be a six-part miniseries on an as-yet unknown network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/524069/kevin-smith-says-directorial-finale-hit-somebody-is-now-a-mini-series-hopefully-to-shoot-next-year/|title=Kevin Smith Says Directorial Finale 'Hit Somebody' is Now a Mini-Series, Hopefully to Shoot Next Year|publisher=/Film|date=December 7, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> Smith announced in March 2015 that ''Hit Somebody'' would film from September to Christmas 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/536739/kevin-smith-mallrats-2/|title=Kevin Smith Mallrats 2: Director Hints At Sequel On Twitter|date=March 12, 2015|work=/Film|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> but this did not happen.

On March 12, 2015, Smith said he would film ''Clerks III'' in May 2015, followed in early 2016 by ''Moose Jaws'' and ''Anti-Claus'' (a story inspired by the [[Krampus]] tradition),<ref>Wales, George (March 12, 2015) [https://www.gamesradar.com/kevin-smith-working-mallrats-sequel/ "Is Kevin Smith working on a Mallrats sequel?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804170815/https://www.gamesradar.com/kevin-smith-working-mallrats-sequel/ |date=August 4, 2020 }}. [[GamesRadar]].</ref> which he confirmed the next day.<ref>Lyons, Matt (March 14, 2015). [http://moargeek.com/2015/03/13/kevin-smith-confirms-mallrats-2-coming-clerks-iii-begins-filming-may/ "Kevin Smith Confirms ''Mallrats 2'' Is Coming, ''Clerks III'' Begins Filming In May"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914072142/http://moargeek.com/2015/03/13/kevin-smith-confirms-mallrats-2-coming-clerks-iii-begins-filming-may/ |date=September 14, 2018 }}. Moargeek.</ref>

On April 8, 2015, Smith said that ''Mallrats 2'' would instead be his next film.  Most of the original film's cast (16 of the 18) signed on to appear in the sequel.<ref>Melrose, Kevin (April 8, 2015).[https://www.cbr.com/mallrats-2-will-be-kevin-smiths-next-film/ "'Mallrats 2'" Will Be Kevin Smith's Next Film] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102224800/https://www.cbr.com/mallrats-2-will-be-kevin-smiths-next-film/ |date=November 2, 2019 }}. [[Comic Book Resources]].</ref> In June 2016, Smith revealed that because [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] owns the rights to the ''Mallrats'' title a sequel would not be made; instead, it would be turned into a ten-episode TV series produced by [[Universal Television]].<ref name="TV-Series">{{cite magazine|last1=Kickham|first1=Dylan|title=Kevin Smith says he's making a Mallrats TV show|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/10/kevin-smith-mallrats-sequel-tv?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter|access-date=11 June 2016|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Mallbrats-tv-series">{{cite news|last1=Lincoln|first1=Ross A.|title='Mallrats 2' & 'Buckaroo Banzai' TV Shows In The Works, Kevin Smith Says|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/kevin-smith-mallrats-buckaroo-banzai-tv-shows-1201770585/|access-date=24 June 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 10, 2016}}</ref> He also confirmed that the film's entire cast would reprise their roles in the series.<ref name="Hollywood-Babble-details-confirmation">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Kevin|title=248: June 11, 2016|url=https://soundcloud.com/hollywoodbabbleon/babble-248|access-date=24 June 2016|publisher=[[Hollywood Babble-On]]|date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> Toward the end of the month, Smith announced that he had closed a deal with Universal Television to pitch the series to networks and streaming services in August.<ref name="Smith-deal-Mallrats-2-closed">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Kevin|title=Today, my deal with @universalentertainment TV closed – which means in August, we go out pitching # Mallrats the Series! Fuck the sailboat: I'm hoping to see a pickup order instead...|url=https://facebook.com/YesThatKevinSmith/photos/a.77596326929.88348.6985046929/10153516006256930/?type=3&refid=8&_ft_=qid.6299851583765230002%3Amf_story_key.1019226287375538915 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/6985046929/10153516006256930 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=24 June 2016|publisher=[[Facebook]]|date=June 24, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In January 2016, Smith wrapped production on a pilot episode for a planned half-hour comedy series, ''Hollyweed''. He wrote and directed the pilot, which starred Smith and [[Donnell Rawlings]], along with [[Kristin Bauer van Straten]], [[Frankie Shaw]], [[Jason Mewes]], [[Ralph Garman]], [[Adam Brody]], Hina Abdullah, Pete Pietrangeliand and [[Harley Quinn Smith]].<ref name=Hollyweed-Project>{{cite magazine|last1=Prudom|first1=Laura|title=Kevin Smith Rolls Out 'Hollyweed' Pot Comedy Project (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/kevin-smith-pot-comedy-hollyweed-1201686499/|access-date=January 26, 2016|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Hollyweed-details>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Kevin|title=235: January 15, 2016|url=https://soundcloud.com/hollywoodbabbleon/babbleon-235|access-date=January 26, 2016|publisher=[[Hollywood Babble-On]]|date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> The pilot was not picked up. In July 2018, it was released as the inaugural pilot on the new TV crowdsourcing site Rivit TV, in hopes of getting funded as a web series.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Kevin Smith Partners With Rivit TV on Comedy Pilot 'Hollyweed' |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/kevin-smith-hollyweed-rivit-tv-1202869936/ |magazine=Variety |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=July 11, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2016, Smith announced that he was adapting the 1984 film ''[[The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]]'' for television through [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television|MGM]] and said he and the company were shopping it around to networks.<ref name="Kevin-Smith-Adaptation">{{cite news|last1=Damore|first1=Meagan|title=Kevin Smith to Adapt 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai' for Television|url=https://www.cbr.com/kevin-smith-to-adapt-the-adventures-of-buckaroo-banzai-for-television/|access-date=February 18, 2022|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=May 16, 2016}}</ref> In July 2016, it was revealed that [[Amazon Studios]] was close to closing a deal to produce the series,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Patten|first1=Dominic|title=Amazon Close To Deal For Kevin Smith-Adapted 'Buckaroo Banzai' TV Series – Comic-Con|url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/buckaroo-banzai-tv-series-deal-kevin-smith-amazon-mgm-peter-weller-1201790044/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref> but in November 2016, during a Facebook Live Stream, Smith said he would walk away from the series after MGM filed a lawsuit against the original creators, but would be willing to come back on board if they wanted him.<ref name="Buckaroo-Lawsuit">{{cite news|last1=Jayson|first1=Jay|title=Kevin Smith Walks Away from Buckaroo Banzai TV Series After MGM Sues Creators|url=https://comicbook.com/news/kevin-smith-walks-away-from-buckaroo-banzai-tv-series-after-mgm/|access-date=February 18, 2022|date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>