David Fincher is one of the most venerated American filmmakers alive, so it only follows that he’s one of the most in demand. For every amazing film he’s made, there’s another potential project that never left the development stage. The director has been up for plenty of jobs in his decades-spanning career, the bulk of which might surprise the average Fincher lover. As most of his films lean darker and more “auteur” than his contemporaries, it’s not easy to imagine Fincher taking on a commercial franchise. In truth, though, the director’s been considered for quite a few. Had his vision aligned with Warner Bros. in the early 2000s, he might have been the one to helm the most beloved fantasy franchise of all: Harry Potter.
In a recent interview promoting the 4K restoration of Seven, Fincher got candid about his tenure with popular IP. Though he’s got a reputation for being choosy with franchise work, he’s open to any project as long as the story aligns with his sensibilities. He was drawn to Gone Girl “in spite of the fact that it was a bestseller,” and boarded The Social Network because it had “a script that you couldn’t put down.”
