I remember years ago...1977 maybe even 1981, the trade paper "Variety" listed in their soon to be in or now in production "Extreme Prejudice" written by John Milius and to be directed by Stanley Kubrick! I am not crazy. This was listed for about 3 weeks then it disappeared from the production charts. To this day I still think to myself "What the hell was that all about?" I never did find the reason for it. Not even in the John Milius documentary.
shareI have looked on Wikipedia and Variety for anything related to what you are talking about. Can't find anything about Kubrick having anything to do with the movie only that John Milius was trying to get the project off the ground in the late 70's, but that's it.
shareYou are right. I don't disagree with your research at all. I did the same investigating also. But, I definitely saw what I saw in the trade papers back then. I even had discussions about it with other film students at that time. It was a "What the *beep* moment for everyone. My guess is maybe Stanley was doing what he did with "One eyed jacks." That is, just to get his name out there or possibly help Milius get the script some attention. Like I said before, other than the trade papers back then, there is zero info about it. Thanks for looking anyway.
Being Stanley Kubrick it's possible he wanted all mention of the article erased. With him being the perfectionist that he was I would not be shocked if he made sure everything related to E.P. at the time was done away with and you may have seen the only surviving copy. But I'm glad the movie never got made with Kubrick directing it anyway because it wouldn't have turned out the same knowing Stanley's kind of style. His style of direction and camera work just wouldn't have worked in an action-packed modern western like Extreme Prejudice.
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