[3] As David Hughes, author of the book Tales From Development Hell, has noted, one reason production is delayed is that, after producers, directors, and actors have been attached to a project, they may request script rewrites.
Development delays can also result when a lead actor or a key member of the production team withdraws from the project, or is taken ill, or dies;[7] when there are labor strikes involving the writers, directors, crew or cast;[8] when there are disputes about intellectual property rights or contract terms;[9] when there is turnover at the studio's executive level and the new leaders have a different vision; or when, due to changes in the wider economic, cultural or political climate, the film's topic comes to be seen as no longer marketable.
A number of popular audio series are dedicated to discussing the topic of unmade creative projects, including Development Hell, a Dread Central podcast which uncovers notable cancelled horror films.
[14] The concept artist and illustrator Sylvain Despretz has suggested that, "Development hell doesn't happen with no-name directors.
"[15] With video games, slow progress and a lack of funds may lead developers to focus their resources elsewhere.
Occasionally, completed portions of a game fail to meet expectations, with developers subsequently choosing to abandon the project rather than start from scratch.