History Main / NoAdaptationsAllowed

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' characters don't often appear in crossovers; it's been said in interviews that there's a kind of wholesome "innocence" to them that makes putting them in {{Massive Multiplayer Crossover}}s where they'd experience genuine peril somewhat uncomfortable. (It's also why the DarkerAndEdgier ''VideoGame/MadouMonogatari'' series it was spun off from can be awkward to go back to.) This is also the main reason why Sega has turned down multiple pitches for ''Puyo Puyo'' fighting spinoffs.

* The estate of Creator/JRRTolkien had previously forbidden any film adaptations of ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', due to dissatisfaction with the ''Lord of the Rings'' movies. Following the retirement of his son Christopher Tolkien as the estate's manager, they relaxed this stance somewhat (only forbidding adaptations of material from the "Third Age" time period of the [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium Legendarium]]), leading to an Amazon-produced series, ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'', which is set in the Second Age.

** Nintendo was initially lenient with allowing their properties to get adaptations, such as the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', elements of their works (most prominently ''VideoGame/Metroid1'' & ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'') in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'', and the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBrosDic'' and ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' cartoon and the obscure ''Mario'' [=OVAs=] (most famously ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach''). The results were middling at best, but this all came crashing down when the live-action ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' movie came about, played fast and loose with the source material, and critically and commercially flopped as a result. Because of its failure, Nintendo instated a mandate that their properties could no longer be adapted into feature films (refusing to consider [[https://vimeo.com/64272956 Imagi Studios' pitch]] for an animated film adaptation of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''), and they have gotten much, much stricter with how licenses can use their characters (for example, when Bowser made a cameo appearance in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Nintendo gave very specific instructions for how Bowser would do things, even something as mundane as ''picking up and holding a cup''). In the last few decades, far fewer animated adaptations have come about such as ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry'', ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''[[note]]though later owned by The Pokemon Company, making this IP only partially Nintendo now[[/note]], ''Anime/FZeroGPLegend'', ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'', and ''Anime/AnimalCrossingTheMovie''. The only exceptions they've made for their feature ban is with the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' anime movies, as they are just extensions of the existing anime. It was rumored that they were willing to allow a live-action ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' movie to be made, but [[DevelopmentHell that never got off the ground]]. However, Nintendo seems to be lightening up on their mandate, starting with the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' in 2023 made by Creator/IlluminationEntertainment, with the difference from the 90s live-action movie being a lot more oversight from Nintendo. Following this, they are also working with Creator/SonyPictures to bring a live-action ''Zelda'' movie to the big screen.

** Nintendo was initially lenient with allowing their properties to get adaptations, such as the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', elements of their works (most prominently ''VideoGame/Metroid1'' & ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'') in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'', and the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBrosDic'' and ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' cartoon and the obscure ''Mario'' [=OVAs=] (most famously ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach''). The results were middling at best, but this all came crashing down when the live-action ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' movie came about, played fast and loose with the source material, and critically and commercially flopped as a result. Because of its failure, Nintendo instated a mandate that their properties could no longer be adapted into feature films (refusing to consider [[https://vimeo.com/64272956 Imagi Studios' pitch]] for an animated film adaptation of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''), and they have gotten much, much stricter with how licenses can use their characters (for example, when Bowser made a cameo appearance in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Nintendo gave very specific instructions for how Bowser would do things, even something as mundane as ''picking up and holding a cup''). In the last few decades, far fewer animated adaptations have come about such as ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry'', ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''[[note]]though later owned by The Pokemon Company, making this IP only partially Nintendo now[[/note]], ''Animd/FZeroGPLegend'', ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'', and ''Anime/AnimalCrossingTheMovie''. The only exceptions they've made for their feature ban is with the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' anime movies, as they are just extensions of the existing anime. It was rumored that they were willing to allow a live-action ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' movie to be made, but [[DevelopmentHell that never got off the ground]]. However, Nintendo seems to be lightening up on their mandate, starting with the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' in 2023 made by Creator/IlluminationEntertainment, with the difference from the 90s live-action movie being a lot more oversight from Nintendo. Following this, they are also working with Creator/SonyPictures to bring a live-action ''Zelda'' movie to the big screen.

** Nintendo was initially lenient with allowing their properties to get adaptations, such as the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', elements of their works (most prominently ''VideoGame/Metroid1'' & ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'') in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'', and the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBrosDic'' and ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' cartoon and the obscure ''Mario'' [=OVAs=] (most famously ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach''). The results were middling at best, but this all came crashing down when the live-action ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' movie came about, played fast and loose with the source material, and critically and commercially flopped as a result. Because of its failure, Nintendo instated a mandate that their properties could no longer be adapted into feature films (refusing to consider [[https://vimeo.com/64272956 Imagi Studios' pitch]] for an animated film adaptation of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''), and they have gotten much, much stricter with how licenses can use their characters (for example, when Bowser made a cameo appearance in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Nintendo gave very specific instructions for how Bowser would do things, even something as mundane as ''picking up and holding a cup''). In the last few decades, far fewer animated adaptations have come about such as ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]]though later owned by The Pokemon Company, making this IP only partially Nintendo now[[/note]], ''VideoGame/FZero'', ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', and ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''. The only exceptions they've made for their feature ban is with the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' anime movies, as they are just extensions of the existing anime. It was rumored that they were willing to allow a live-action ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' movie to be made, but [[DevelopmentHell that never got off the ground]]. However, Nintendo seems to be lightening up on their mandate, starting with the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' in 2023 made by Creator/IlluminationEntertainment, with the difference from the 90s live-action movie being a lot more oversight from Nintendo. Following this, they are also working with Creator/SonyPictures to bring a live-action ''Zelda'' movie to the big screen.

* Creator/AgathaChristie decreed that ''Theatre/TheMousetrap'' can have no adaptations while the play is still running. Not that it stopped the USSR from doing a straightforward film in 1990. The play had stopped performances for fourteen months due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, but it has since started back up.

* Despite being Disney's mascot, WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse has never received a theatrical film in the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.[[note]]Not counting segments in other films like ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' in ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'' and ''Mickey and the Beanstalk'' in ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree''. This also does not count ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'', which is a direct-to-DVD film (though it did receive a limited theatrical screening at Disney's El Capitan theatre).[[/note]] That isn't to say there hadn't been attempts to make a film based on him, but most proposals from Disney animators are usually [[ExecutiveMeddling shot down by Disney executives]], who are highly against making a film based on Mickey. This reportedly stems from Disney being ''fiercely'' protective of Mickey (since he is their mascot) and not wanting to risk a film potentially tarnishing his image.

* Creator/DrSeuss refused to allow his work to be adapted into movies and rejected many proposals and offs from Hollywood during his lifetime. This is largely due to feeling his work [[HardToAdaptWork would not translate well to a feature-length film]], on top of the failure of his sole feature film, ''Film/The5000FingersOfDrT'', and his [[DisownedAdaptation dissatisfaction]] with the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' adaptation of ''Literature/HortonHatchesTheEgg'' in 1942. Tellingly, film adaptations of his work would not be made until ''after'' Seuss passed away in 1991. That said, this did not extend to television, as he had collaborated with several animators (such as Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/FrizFreleng, and Creator/RalphBakshi) to make {{Animated Adaptation}}s of his books (plus a few original stories) while he was still alive.

* Creator/DrSeuss refused to allow his work to be adapted into movies and rejected many proposals and offs from Hollywood during his lifetime. This is largely due to feeling his work [[HardToAdaptWork would not translate well to a feature-length film]], on top of the failure of his sole feature film, ''Film/The5000FingersOfDrT'' and his [[DisownedAdaptation dissatisfaction]] with the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' adaptation of ''Literature/HortonHatchesTheEgg'' in 1942. Tellingly, film adaptations of his work would not be made until ''after'' Seuss passed away in 1997. That said, this did not extend to television, as he had collaborated with several animators (such as Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/FrizFreleng, and Creator/RalphBakshi) to make {{Animated Adaptation}}s of his books (plus a few original stories) while he was still alive.

* Audrey Geisel, Creator/DrSeuss' wife, was [[DisownedAdaptation absolutely dissatisfied]] with the [[Film/TheCatInTheHat film adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheCatInTheHat'' to the point where she vowed never to produce any future live-action adaptations of her husband's works for the rest of her life. Dr. Seuss, on the other hand, had collaborated with Creator/ChuckJones and then Creator/FrizFreleng to make {{Animated Adaptation}}s of his books (plus a few original stories) while he was still alive.

** Nintendo was initially lenient with allowing their properties to get adaptations, such as the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', elements of their works (most prominently ''VideoGame/Metroid1'' & ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'') in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'', and the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBrosDic'' and ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' cartoon and the obscure ''Mario'' [=OVAs=] (most famously ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach''). The results were middling at best, but this all came crashing down when the live-action ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' movie came about, played fast and loose with the source material, and critically and commercially flopped as a result. Because of its failure, Nintendo instated a mandate that their properties could no longer be adapted into feature films (refusing to consider [[https://vimeo.com/64272956 Imagi Studios' pitch]] for an animated film adaptation of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''), and they have gotten much, much stricter with how licenses can use their characters (for example, when Bowser made a cameo appearance in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Nintendo gave very specific instructions for how Bowser would do things, even something as mundane as ''picking up and holding a cup''). In the last few decades, far fewer animated adaptations have come about such as ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]]though later owned by The Pokemon Company, making this IP only partially Nintendo now[[/note]], ''VideoGame/FZero'', ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', and ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''. The only exceptions they've made for their feature ban is with the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' anime movies, as they are just extensions of the existing anime. It was rumored that they were willing to allow a live-action ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' movie to be made, but [[DevelopmentHell that never got off the ground]]. However, Nintendo seems to be lightening up on their mandate, starting with the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' in 2023 made by Creator/IlluminationEntertainment, with the difference from the 90s live-action movie being a lot more oversight from Nintendo.

** According to Creator/StudioGhibli producer Toshio Suzuki, [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-04-26/ghibli-toshio-suzuki-reveals-live-action-nausicaa-offers/.172132 many have come forward]] with proposals to adapt ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' to live action, with all of them being rejected by Miyazaki, who is against the idea of adapting his animated works to live action films. This doesn't seem to apply to prequels or sequels to his work, as an official live-action prequel short to ''Nausicaä'' titled ''Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo'' premiered in 2012.
** Miyazaki has also forbidden his films from being adapted into video games, and he has had a history of rejecting such pitches immediately. This is largely thanks to the infamous ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' video games that were released on Japanese [=PCs=] roughly around the same time the film came out, which [[DisownedAdaptation he despised so much]] that they've caused him to develop a hatred for ''video games as a whole''. That said, despite his distaste for video games, he doesn't seem to be against Ghibli's general involvement in video games, as the studio would be involved with ''VideoGame/MagicPengel'' and the first ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni'' game. He was also [[https://nintendoeverything.com/studio-ghiblis-hayao-miyazaki-was-once-offered-to-work-on-a-game-for-nintendo/ open to the idea]] of collaborating with Creator/{{Nintendo}} after the latter offered him to work with them on a game. However, the game in question (which was reportedly centered around insects) [[WhatCouldHaveBeen never got off the ground due to Miyazaki being too busy on other projects at the time]].

** Nintendo was initially lenient with allowing their properties to get adaptations, such as the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', elements of their works (most prominently ''VideoGame/Metroid1'' & ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'') in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'', and the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBrosDic'' and ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' cartoon and the obscure ''Mario'' [=OVAs=] (most famously ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach''). The results were middling at best, but this all came crashing down when the live-action ''Film/SuperMarioBros1993'' movie came about, played fast and loose with the source material, and critically and commercially flopped as a result. Because of its failure, Nintendo instated a mandate that their properties could no longer be adapted into feature films (refusing to consider [[https://vimeo.com/64272956 Imagi Studios' pitch]] for an animated film adaptation of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''), and they have gotten much, much stricter with how licenses can use their characters (for example, when Bowser made a cameo appearance in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Nintendo gave very specific instructions for how Bowser would do things, even something as mundane as ''picking up and holding a cup''). In the last few decades, far fewer animated adaptations have come about such as ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]]though later owned by The Pokemon Company, making this IP only partially Nintendo now[[/note]], ''VideoGame/FZero'', ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', and ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''. The only exceptions they've made for their feature ban is with the ''Film/{{Pokemon}}'' anime movies, as they are just extensions of the existing anime. It was rumored that they were willing to allow a live-action ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' movie to be made, but [[DevelopmentHell that never got off the ground]]. However, Nintendo seems to be lightening up on their mandate, starting with the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' in 2023 made by Creator/IlluminationEntertainment, with the difference from the 90s live-action movie being a lot more oversight from Nintendo.

* Audrey Geisel, Creator/DrSeuss' wife, was [[DisownedAdaptation absolutely dissatisfied]] with the film adaptation of ''Film/TheCatInTheHat'' to the point where she vowed never to produce any future live-action adaptations of her husband's works for the rest of her life. Dr. Seuss, on the other hand, had collaborated with Creator/ChuckJones and then Creator/FrizFreleng to make {{Animated Adaptation}}s of his books (plus a few original stories) while he was still alive.

->''The world of a comic strip ought to be a special place with its own logic and life. I don't want some animation studio giving Hobbes an actor's voice, and I don't want some greeting card company using Calvin to wish people a happy anniversary, and I don't want the issue of Hobbes's reality settled by a doll manufacturer. When everything fun and magical is turned into something for sale, the strip's world is diminished. ''Calvin and Hobbes'' was designed to be a comic strip and that's all I want it to be. It's the one place where everything works the way I intend it to.''

->''"I like movies, but 'Maus' is better served as a book. [It's a] more intimate form and comics adhere to the brain better."''
-->-- '''Creator/ArtSpiegelman''' on his graphic novel, ''ComicBook/{{Maus}}''

* Averted with Creator/StephenKing and ''Literature/TheDarkTower''. During the writing of the novels, he expressed a desire to never see them adapted. After the last book was published, he allowed the series to be optioned, resulting in ''Film/TheDarkTower'', which he enjoyed but expressed disappointment with its box office failure. He hopes to have another shot at adaptation of the books as a prestige show in the vein of ''Series/GameOfThrones.''

-->-- '''Creator/ArtSpiegelman'' on his graphic novel, ''ComicBook/{{Maus}}''

* Creator/IanFleming wasn't happy with his novel ''Literature/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'' and only sold the rights to use the book's title for an InNameOnly movie.

* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'': Owing to how the deal for the movie rights came about, for a long time nobody else was allowed to make a ''Dune'' movie following the Creator/DavidLynch [[Film/Dune1984 film]]. The [=SciFi=] Channel (now Creator/{{Syfy}}) found a loophole and made [[Series/{{Dune}} two]] [[Series/ChildrenOfDune miniseries]], though the lackluster performance of both (based on the first three books) torpedoed any plans to keep going. It was not until 2017 that Creator/LegendaryPictures hired Creator/DenisVilleneuve to be the director for a [[Film/Dune2021 new adaptation]] of the book.

* After the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'' became a BoxOfficeBomb, Creator/RodgersAndHammerstein stated that their musicals would no longer be adapted into animated feature films.