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Directors: Movies they refused or didn't get.
 8.9 One-Eyed Jacks
It was a project of him, with Marlon Brando star as lead role, but negotiations broke down and Brando ended up directing the film himself. The Exorcist He was refused to direct a sequel to The Exorcist, but made his own horror film: The Shining. A.I. Artificial Intelligence In the 1990s, Kubrick began an on-again/off-again collaboration with Brian Aldiss on a new science fiction film called "Artificial Intelligence (AI)", but progress was very slow, and was backgrounded until special effects technology was up to the standard the Kubrick wanted. After some years special effects technology had matured rapidly in the meantime, and Kubrick immediately began active work on A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), but tragically suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep on March 7th, 1999. Spielberg took over as the film's director and completed the last Kubrick project. Coby's rating:
 
9 Anastasia
Turned down the offer to direct the film. The Bad Seed Turned down the offer to direct the film. The Exorcist Turned down the chance to acquire the screen rights to William Peter Blatty's novel and also turned down the chance to direct the film when another producer bought the rights to the property. Jane Eyre Turned down the offer to direct the film. The Keys of the Kingdom He liked the A.J. Cronin novel about a young priest sent to establish a Catholic parish in China, but plans for him to direct the movie version in the '40s fell through. The Lodger In the '40s, he bought the remake rights to the Silent film that helped put him on the map but could never convince a studio to let him remake the film in color. No Highway in the Sky Turned down the offer to direct the film. Rosemary's Baby Turned down the chance to acquire Ira Levin's novel and, later, to direct the film version. Sleuth Passed on directing the movie version of Anthony Shaffer's ingenious hit play. Wait Until Dark He was offered the screen rights to the broadway hit play by Frederick Knott, who also wrote Dial M For Murder previously made into a film by Hitchcock. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? When producer William Frye considered taking an option on the William Farrell novel in 1960, he and his friend, Bette Davis tried to get Hitchcock interested in directing. He declined, as he was busy promoting Psycho and trying to develop The Birds into a screenplay. The Wreck of the Mary Deare He was originally going to direct but chose to make North By Northwest instead. Coby's rating:
 
8.4 The Black Dahlia
Was originally set to direct, but dropped out. Madonna: Truth or Dare Was originally set to direct, but dropped out. Mission: Impossible III Was originally set to direct, but dropped out over creative differences. Catch Me If You Can Turned down the offer to direct the film, and opted for Panic Room instead. Batman Begins Turned down the offer to direct the film. 8MM Turned down the offer to direct the film and opted for Fight Club instead. Collateral Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
8.7 Clockers
He originally signed on to direct, but dropped out to do Casino. Collateral Turned down the offer to direct the film. Schindler's List He turned down the offer to direct the film, because he felt it was best that a jewish director take the job. The Honeymoon Killers Was originally going to direct, but was replaced after a week of shooting. Coby's rating:
8.3 Dick Tracy
He was offered to direct but was too involved planning Edward Scissorhands to accept. The Fly Was offered to direct with Michael Keaton in the lead role, but he backed out and David Cronenberg took over. The Nightmare Before Christmas He thought about directing, but gave Henry Selick the director's chair so he could concentrate on Batman Returns. Ripley's Believe It or Not! The studio refused him to direct because his budget was too big. Stay Tuned Passed on directing, to work on Batman Returns. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Was originally set to do a re-make in the early 1980s. Coby's rating:
8.1 Big
Was considered to direct the film. He wanted Harrison Ford to star as lead role. Collateral Turned down the offer to direct the film. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button According to IMDB, Steven Spielberg was attached to the film, in the late 1990s. He would have had Tom Cruise star as lead role. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone He was considered to direct the Harry Potter series, but was rejected by Rowling who kept close control of the film. Last Action Hero Turned down the offer to direct the film to work on Schindler's List. Rain Man Backed out of the director's chair because he needed to start on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Something Wicked This Way Comes The director considered making the film version of Ray Bradbury's beloved novel. In the end, he opted instead to direct Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Meet the Parents He was approached to direct the film and have Jim Carrey star as lead role. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi He was intended to direct but couldn't accept because of the issues George Lucas had with the Director's Guild. Superman Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
8.3 Men in Black
Turned down the offer to direct the film. Speed Turned down the offer to direct the film. Westworld Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
7.5 Spider-Man
Wrote a screenplay for this movie, but was turned down by the studios, due to the fact that his version of Spider-Man was "too violent". Sam Raimi's version got the green light instead. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Turned down the chance to direct because he felt the story ended with the second movie. Solaris Refused to direct but opted to produce instead. Coby's rating:
8.8 The Godfather
He was offered the chance to direct but he did not care for the story. Hang 'Em High Was approached to direct, but he turned it down since he was working on Once Upon a Time in the West at the time. Coby's rating:
8.5 Angels & Demons
He was interested in directing this movie, but didn't get the chance because Ron Howard was contractually obligated to direct. Coby's rating:
5.1 Red Dragon
Turned down the offer to direct the film. Van Helsing Turned down the offer to direct the film, opting to do The Island instead. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Was offer the opportunity to direct but pulled out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. Man on Fire Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
 
7.2 The Shadow
He wanted to adapt and direct, but was denied the rights to do it. Instead, he created his own superhero with his film Darkman. I Am Legend Turned down the offer to direct the film because he was not interested. Batman Was interested to direct, but he couldn't get the rights for Batman from DC comics. Another script was then developed and eventually made by Tim Burton in 1989. Coby's rating:
8 Dune
He was the original director but left the film to do Blade Runner instead. I Am Legend In the mid nineties Ridley Scott was set to direct an adaptation of the classic Richard Matheson novel. However the project eventually fell through, and after all Francie Lawrence directed the movie after impressing studio execs with his work on Constantine. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
8.3 Batman Begins
Turned down the offer to direct the film. The Wolverine In March 2011, Aronofsky announced he was leaving production of The Wolverine (2012) because it would require him to be filming outside of the United States for too long. He released a statement specifying, "I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through". 
8 Blade: Trinity
Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy. AVP: Alien vs. Predator Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy. One Missed Call Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I Am Legend Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Turned down the offer to direct the film, to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Hellraiser: Bloodline Turned down the offer to direct the film. End of Days Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
6.9 D-Tox
Was interested in directing D-Tox at one point, but decided to direct How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Chamber Backed out of the director's chair to do Ransom instead. Coby's rating:
8.6 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Turned down the director's chair in order to do Dune instead. 
7.9 American Beauty
Turned down the offer to direct the film. Enemy Mine Turned down the offer to direct the film. Forrest Gump Turned down the offer to direct the film. Who Framed Roger Rabbit Turned down the offer to direct the film. Alien: Resurrection Turned down the offer to direct the film. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling, creator of the "Harry Potter" book series, originally wanted Gilliam to direct Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), but Warner Bros studios wanted a more family friendly film and eventually settled for Chris Columbus. Braveheart Turned down the offer to direct the film. Coby's rating:
7.3 American Psycho
Was attached to direct the film with Leonardo DiCaprio to star as Patrick Bateman. After DiCaprio left the project to make The Beach, he left it also. American Gangster Turned down the offer to direct the film in 2001, because he decided to work on Alexander. Coby's rating:
7.9 Alien: Resurrection
Passed the director's chair to work on A Life Less Ordinary. Coby's rating:
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.....and Men in Black by Tarantino...WOW. :O
Also, Kubrick was also the original choice for Heathers. Imagine how different that movie would have been...
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/BatmanBegins