10 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made
6. Rendezvous With Rama
Arthur C. Clarke is probably best known for writing 2001: A Space Odyssey, but the British author wrote numerous novels during his life, and one that is both highly regarded by fans and impossible to make into a feature film is his 1973 book, Rendezvous with Rama.
The story is set in the 2130s and centers around a massive cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System. In the book, the ship is 50 by 20 kilometers (31 by 12 miles), and it's explored by a group of people intent on uncovering its secrets. The novel won both the Nebula and Hugo award when it was released, and it's highly regarded by fans.
One such fan is noted actor Morgan Freeman, who has been trying to get a movie made since the early 2000s. Unfortunately, Rendezvous with Rama languished in Development Hell for years, and without the proper funding, it never manifested for Freeman.
David Fincher was attached to direct the movie, but by 2008, the director said, "It looks like it's not going to happen. There's no script, and as you know, Morgan Freeman's not in the best of health right now. We've been trying to do it, but it's probably not going to happen."
With no script or money, Rendezvous with Rama remains in Development Hell.