Some films in movie purgatory

A partial list of films recently in movie purgatory:

“Margaret”: director Kenneth Lonergan. Shot: 2005. (Fox Searchlight)

Lonergan’s follow-up to his acclaimed “You Can Count on Me” has been the subject of numerous reshoots and two lawsuits. Status: No release date.

“Case 39”: director Christian Alvart. Shot: 2006. (Paramount)

The Renée Zellweger- Bradley Cooper supernatural thriller endured several studio regime changes and several aborted release dates. Status: Released three weeks ago.

“Spring Breakdown”: director Ryan Shiraki. Shot: 2006. (Warner Bros.)

The ensemble comedy starring Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers was stuck in limbo when the Warner Independent label shut down. The film was shopped to other studios; when none took it, the studio scrapped a theatrical release. Status: Released on DVD in 2009.

“Kids in America”: director Michael Dowse. Shot: 2007. (Universal Pictures)

Topher Grace and Anna Faris star in this post college comedy that was withheld from theaters at the behest of Universal executives. Status: Set for release in March by Relativity Media.

“A Thousand Words”: director Brian Robbins. Shot: 2008. (DreamWorks/Paramount)

The Eddie Murphy comedy was shelved after Murphy’s flops “Meet Dave” and “ Imagine That.” Status: Tentatively set for early 2011.

“Shanghai”: director Mikael Hafstrom. Shot: 2008. (Weinstein Co.)

The World War II epic starring John Cusack has been held by the financially challenged Weinstein Co. Status: Possibly coming out in 2011.

“The Beaver”: director Jodie Foster. Shot: 2009 (Summit Entertainment)

One of the most talked-about scripts in the industry, about a man and a beaver puppet, became a movie with Mel Gibson. Then Gibson hit the tabloids. Status: No release date.