History Main / MidDevelopmentGenreShift

* Joan Alison and Murray Burnett wrote ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'' as a play, ''Everybody Comes to Rick''.

* ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'' was originally written as a western, but the producers felt that the western elements on top of the all the fantasy elements would be too much for the audience. Some western touches remain, however, such as Jack's saddlebag and the fact that he [[RidingIntoTheSunset rides off into the sunset]] [[DidNotGetTheGirl without getting the girl]].

* ''Film/AnnieHall'' was originally a murder-mystery with a comic and romantic subplot. Most of the mystery was actually filmed before getting cut completely and making the romance the whole story. Creator/WoodyAllen later resurrected the idea for ''Film/ManhattanMurderMystery''. At one point, the film was also a period comedy set in VictorianLondon.

* ''Film/TheCableGuy'' was originally "a ''Film/WhatAboutBob'' annoying friend movie" regarding a guy's life being invaded by the guy who installed his cable TV. Creator/JuddApatow, Creator/BenStiller and Creator/JimCarrey rewrote the script to be a parody of stalking thrillers such as ''Film/CapeFear, Film/UnlawfulEntry'' and ''Film/TheHandThatRocksTheCradle'' and have the cable guy as a very dangerous and obsessive StalkerWithACrush.
* ''Film/CasinoRoyale1967'' was supposed to be a serious adaptation of the novel and proper Franchise/JamesBond film to compete with the proper series. When the filmmakers couldn't get Creator/SeanConnery, it became a spoof.

* Creator/OliverStone was asked to direct ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982''. His version would have taken place in post-apocalyptic Earth rather than the fantasy setting of the stories.
* ''Film/FaceOff'' was originally a straight science-fiction film. The final film is set in present day, with the face-swapping procedure and magnetic-boot prison being presented as bleeding-edge technology.
* ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'' was made a musical during production. The director was against this, but the producers convinced him by pointing out the success of ''Film/MaryPoppins'' and ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.

* Creator/TommyWiseau originally wrote ''Film/TheRoom'' as a play. The title comes from the intent that it would only take place in the one room. He supposedly then adapted the play into a 500-page book, which he was unable to get published.

* ''Film/MissPettigrewLivesForADay'' was planned as a musical headlined by Billie Burke as the titular character. Production was cancelled due to World War II and it didn't get made until ''2008'' - where it was now a GenreThrowback to ScrewballComedy.

* ''Film/{{Convoy}}'' went from light-hearted comedy in vein of ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit'' to a more serious action film.

* ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' was meant to remain in the DarkerAndEdgier footsteps of previous Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse movies. Then some audiences showing more interest in the "fun and edgy" parts of the trailers, expecting something along the lines of the recently released ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'', leading the studio to add more comedy scenes and even hire additional editors (the end credits list five!). As a result, the tone is inconsistent as hell.

* ''Film/PodPeople'' was initially written as a horror film, with an alien killing poachers and a vacationing rock band in a forest. Then ''[[Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial E.T.]]'' came out, so ''Pod People'' was rewritten to copy its success, adding scenes of a child protagonist befriending a younger alien. But the killings, crude humor, and sexual innuendo remained from the earlier version, resulting in [[UncertainAudience a film that couldn't decide who it was trying to appeal to]].

* ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'' started out as a coming of age comedy about caddies working at a country club to a wacky screwball comedy that Creator/HaroldRamis described as a modern-day Creator/MarxBrothers film.

* ''Series/SapphireAndSteel'' was initially commissioned as a children's fantasy series, but when PJ Hammond's scripts turned out to be significantly scarier than would be acceptable for that, the network rethought the idea instead of demanding rewrites. "Assignment One" still shows some signs of the original intended audience, with the child [=PoV=] characters, use of nursery rhymes as plot points, rather whimsical kids' TV host characterisation of Lead, and [[spoiler: probably the show's most uncomplicatedly happy ending]]. "Assignment Two", however, clearly indicates the shift, with its even more frightening atmosphere, adult subject matter related to war and sexual relationships and an [[spoiler:absolutely horrifying DownerEnding]].

* ''{{Theatre/Company|Sondheim}}'' was originally written by George Furth as a cycle of eleven short plays about different couples. He got the idea of third person observing each couple, and this third wheel eventually became the main character.

* ''Film/PrettyWoman'' was originally dark drama about prostitution before becoming a RomanticComedy. Rather than the KnightInShiningArmor ending, Vivian would have screamed obscenities at Edward as he threw money into the gutter and peeled away in his limo.

* ''VideoGame/{{Klonoa}}'' was going to be a ActionHorror game as seen in [[https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/166376183258/klonoa-chronicles-part-11 one of the concept arts of the story (that depicted Klonoa fighting werewolf-like creatures) and Huepow (in his original monster design) eating and burning up enemies then inflating their lifeless corpses]]. The werewolves were later retooled into adorable Moos that we all loved today. Hoepow was later retooled into a fairy who allows the titular character to use the Wind Bullet to inflate enemies while being alive and without harm.

* ''VideoGame/{{Klonoa}}'' was going to be a action horror game as seen in [[https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/166376183258/klonoa-chronicles-part-11 one of the concept arts of the story (that depicted Klonoa fighting werewolf-like creatures) and Huepow (in his original monster design) eating and burning up enemies then inflating their lifeless corpses]]. The werewolves were later retooled into adorable Moos that we all loved today. Hoepow was later retooled into a fairy who allows Klonoa to use the Wind Bullet to inflate enemies while being alive and without harm.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'' was originally going to be a much darker dystopian film where the predator population was oppressed by the herbivore population and forced to wear shock collars to reign in their alleged savage impulses. There was a lot of animatics and concept art for this version and dialogue was even starting to be recorded before the creators decided it wasn't quite working and scrapped it for a much LighterAndSofter concept that was much less dystopian while still featuring commentaries on racism. They have stated in interviews that this was an artistic choice and not a [[ExecutiveMeddling mandate from higher up]] to make something more child friendly.
** Official concept art and commentary show that it shifted genres and major plot points several more times throughout development. Originally there were ideas about a TuxedoAndMartini spy thriller featuring rabbit agent Jack Savage, possibly teamed with a vixen named Skye. Then it was even more of a [[TheyFightCrime buddy cop film]] between Jack and eventual deuteragonist Nick Wilde. Then for the aforementioned dystopia version, Nick was the protagonist and there was more focus on his relationship with his friends and deceased father before love interest Judy Hopps became the central protagonist. All the cut characters and storylines have been major FanficFuel.

* ''VideoGame/RideToHellRetribution'' was originally planned to be a WideOpenSandbox game when it was first announced in 2008, but following its trip into DevelopmentHell, only [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell emerging out of it and seeing release in 2013]], it ended up being changed into a much more linear action/driving game with limited sidequests. It's unknown why this was changed as the game's production history is oddly scant, but this explains why several maps in the final product (most notably the [[HubLevel hub town]] and casino level) are fully modelled and set-dressed as if they were to be for a sandbox game, but are either severely blocked off by {{Invisible Wall}}s or used for a 10-minute shoot-em-up section and never seen again.

* ''[[{{Roleplay/UltimateChatFicOfMutualMemeing}} Ultimate Chat Fic]]'' is an extreme example, slated to transition from role-play to fanfic after three chapters have already been published, on account of [[TroubledProduction many players leaving the group.]]

* ''{{Film/Hook}}'' was planned as a musical, possibly with songs written by Music/MichaelJackson. When it actually went into production Music/LeslieBricusse and Music/JohnWilliams had a clutch of songs ready to go, but plans were changed in an attempt to rein in the budget. Two songs do remain though, one sung by the mock Lost Boys in the SchoolPlay that opens the film, and another by Maggie to the pirates in the real Neverland. "Childhood", a song that didn't make it, appears in the ''Leslie Bricusse Songbook'' sheet music collection.
* Creator/JossWhedon wrote ''Film/AlienResurrection'' as a {{Camp}} parody of the ''{{Franchise/Alien}}'' films. Creator/JeanPierreJeunet decided to play it straight.
* ''{{Film/Showgirls}}'' was envisioned as a dark, pro-feminist satire on the lives of Vegas showgirls. Along the way it became a notoriously {{Camp}} exploitation film. ''Film/MagicMike'' is closer to what it was originally conceived as.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''{{Series/Charmed|1998}}'' was thought up as basically a TV version of ''Film/TheCraft'' about three roommates who were witches. Networks weren't really interested in the witchcraft until Constance M Burge made the characters sisters, and it became the SupernaturalSoapOpera it was best known as.

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo|Combat Evolved}}'' was originally conceived as a RealTimeStrategy game, but it made it to shelves as a FirstPersonShooter, probably because its plot and factions coupled with its genre would have made it too similar to RTS heavyweight ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}''. Also, the developers changed genres because they decided they wanted to play as the soldiers. Initially ''Halo'' was a third person shooter for Macs (which can be seen in early videos and screenshots) but became a first person shooter when Bungie was purchased by Microsoft.

* Creator/{{Rareware}} has a habit of doing this:

* When Creator/IdSoftware first described their concept for ''VideoGame/{{Quake I}}'', it was a MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame (before ''VideoGame/EverQuest'' made the genre mainstream) with characters taking control of Norse-inspired warriors armed with hammers. At some point they scaled their ambition way down to just producing another FirstPersonShooter.

* ''VideoGame/Battlefield2042'' -- or at the time of inception, just ''Battlefield 6'' -- was meant to just be another straightforward multiplayer team-based shooter title, but once development got the go-ahead, Creator/{{DICE}} was reportedly pressured by Creator/ElectronicArts to [[FollowTheLeader "copy what's popular"]] and turn ''6'' more into a BattleRoyaleGame, directly inspired by the likes of ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'' and ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'' (the latter being a title that EA had also published and found massive success in). This change in gameplay genre led to the absence of key franchise features, most prominently its class system (now replaced with the gadget-centric "specialist" characters) and a single-player story campaign... which led to further problems by August 2020, supposedly motivated by the steady success of ''Apex'' and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2019 Call of Duty: Warzone]]'' being released as major competition in the battle royale genre, the game changed ''back'' to being the usual team-based multiplayer shoot-fest, with the battle royale aspects being merged into the "Hazard Zone" side mode. By the time this switch-back occurred, [[ChristmasRushed DICE had only about 15 months left before the release deadline, forcing them into developing exclusively for the multiplayer]].

* ''VideoGame/Battlefield2042'' -- or at the time of inception, just ''Battlefield 6'' -- was meant to just be another straightforward multiplayer team-based shooter title, but once development got the go-ahead, Creator/{{DICE}} was reportedly pressured by Creator/ElectronicArts to [[FollowTheLeader "copy what's popular"]] and turn ''6'' more into a BattleRoyaleGame, directly inspired by the likes of ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2019 Call of Duty: Warzone]]'' and ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'' (the latter being a title that EA had also published and found massive success in). This change in gameplay genre led to the absence of key franchise features, most prominently its class system (now replaced with the gadget-centric "specialist" characters) and a single-player story campaign... which carried over as by August 2020, the game changed ''back'' to being the usual team-based multiplayer shoot-fest, with the battle royale aspects being merged into the "Hazard Zone" side mode. By the time this switch-back occurred, [[ChristmasRushed DICE had only about 15 months left before the release deadline, forcing them into developing exclusively for the multiplayer]].

* ''WesternAnimation/PlanetSheen'' was intended to be more serious and dramatic, but it ended up becoming even DenserAndWackier than ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron''. [[FranchiseKiller The results]] [[CreatorKiller were disastrous.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/PlanetSheen'' was intended to be more serious and dramatic, but it ended up becoming even DenserAndWackier than ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron''.

[[folder: Music ]]

* ''Film/{{Solo}}'' was originally envisioned by initial directors Creator/PhilLordAndChrisMiller to be a ScrewballComedy-styled SelfParody of the whole ''Franchise/StarWars'' franchise, and for the first four months of shooting, that was the direction it was taking. However, [[CreativeDifferences this created enough friction with]] Creator/LucasArts that they ended up getting booted from production and replaced with Creator/RonHoward, who reshot much of the content (approximately 80% of the final film) to be a slightly more comedic, but overall traditional ''Star Wars'' film.

* On Music/BobDylan's 1985 album ''Empire Burlesque'', the album for displayed a surprisingly (for its time) contemporary sound for Dylan. For the song "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky", it was originally going to be an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKCZ8K1gUDs upbeat rock tune]] with [[Music/BruceSpringsteen the members of The E Street Band]] backing him! But when the album was developed, it was drastically rewritten, now sounding like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2tIj4Jd_R0 this]]. This song earned Bob Dylan being called [[FanNickname "Disco Dylan"]] when this album came out.

* When Creator/BruceWillis was attached to star in ''Film/FireDownBelow'', the screenplay by Jeb Staurt, was more a drama with detective elements. When Creator/StevenSeagal came aboard after Willis departed, writer Phillip Morton was brought in to convert the material into an action film that incorporated the genre staples Seagal was famous for.

* ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' was meant to remain in the DarkerAndEdgier footsteps of previous Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse movies. Then some audiences showing more interest in the "fun and edgy" parts of the trailers, expecting something along the lines of the recently released ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', leading the studio to add more comedy scenes and even hire additional editors (the end credits list five!). As a result, the tone is inconsistent as hell.

* ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' was originally supposed to be an ''Theatre/{{Aida|JohnRice}}''-esque romance, the core of the story being the relationship between Fiyero and Elphaba, with Glinda essentially a supporting character. The finished story instead focused on the RomanticTwoGirlFriendship, making Fiyero more of a SatelliteLoveInterest.

* ''{{Theatre/Company|Sondheim}}'' was originally written by George Furth as a cycle of eleven short plays.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'' was originally going to be a much darker dystopian film where the predator population was oppressed by the herbivore population and forced to wear shock collars to reign in their alleged savage impulses. There was a lot of animatics and concept art for this version and dialogue was even starting to be recorded before the creators decided it wasn't quite working and scrapped it for a much LighterAndSofter concept that was much less dystopian while still featuring commentaries on racism. They have stated in interviews that this was a artistic choice and not a [[ExecutiveMeddling mandate from higher up]] to make something more child friendly.

-->--''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman''