Simon West(I)

"Black Hawk Down" (2001) was originally the idea of West who urged producer Jerry Bruckheimer to obtain the rights of the book with a view to directing it himself. However, West abandoned the project to direct "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Ridley Scott then directed "Black Hawk Down" (2001).

Making a film is like trying to pass a handful of water between a thousand people. By the time the last person receives it you are lucky if there is still one drop left of the original idea.