[2] In the early-to mid-1970s, Stone completed the first draft of "a really good screenplay" called The Cover-Up, which English writer Robert Bolt then helped him rewrite at his office in Beverly Hills.
[5] Initially, Stone was attached to write and co-direct Conan the Barbarian in the late 1970s alongside Joe Alves, envisioning a "post-apocalyptic tale for the ages".
Titled Company Man, screenwriters Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner began a script while simultaneously working on a RoboCop sequel, both for Orion Pictures.
[20] Also in 1987, Stone and producer Justin Ackerman teamed up for a film adapted from the Peter Matthiessen book In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, for Carolco.
[22] In the early 1990s, it was reported that Stone would direct a then-untitled film about Samuel LaBudde, an environmentalist who fought to stop tuna fishermen from killing dolphins.
[33] Lawrence Wright's script, which was written for Stone, was later produced as the television film Noriega: God's Favorite (2000) starring Bob Hoskins.
[40][41] In 1995, Stone was reportedly set to collaborate with directors Francis Ford Coppola and Tim Burton on a horror anthology series for HBO based on Weird Tales, the pulp magazine collection of short stories.
[49] In the late 1990s, Stone was hired to direct the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's novel American Psycho, with Leonardo DiCaprio portraying Patrick Bateman.
[70][71][72] [73][74] In February 2000, Stone was involved in the next Superman film at Warner Bros., from a script by Bill Wisher and Jon Peters attached to produce the project at the time.
[81][82][83] In October 2006, it was announced that Stone would direct an adaptation of CIA agent Gary Berntsen's memoir Jawbreaker: The Attack on bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
[109][110][111] In March 2010, it was reported that Stone would develop and possibly direct Travis McGee, based on the eponymous fictional detective character created by author John D. MacDonald.
Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to star and produce the film for 20th Century Fox, which would have been based on the first of MacDonald's novels; The Deep Blue Good-by.
[116] In August 2010, it was reported that Stone expressed interest in making a film adaptation of the musical Memphis and wanted Justin Timberlake to star in it.
[120] On May 22, 2017, Stone was confirmed to direct a two-hour long pilot of Daniel Voll's Guantanamo Bay TV series through Weinstein Television.
[123][124] On August 13, 2018, it was reported that Stone would reteam with Benicio del Toro for his next film White Lies, set to begin production in spring 2019 in New York City.
The script, written by Stone, follows a man who, repeating his parents' mistakes in his own marriage and with his son, begins a journey of rediscovery.
[127] By August, Stone had signed with Atlas Artists for representation in all areas, to help bring what was reported as an "ambitious" narrative film to fruition.