10 Things You Didn't Know About 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. Kubrick Was Inspired As He Thought He’d Never Seen A Great Science Fiction Movie Before
Stanley Kubrick is known for his own, personal, auteurist take on each individual film genre, and many believe that he has tried to create “the best” of each genre, including but not limited to the erotic drama, the horror film, the heist film and the black comedy.
And, after completing work on Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick became fascinated with the prospect of alien life, and set his sights on the science fiction genre.
So, when he was introduced to the science fiction author, Arthur C Clarke, he quickly became interested in a collaboration between the two of them.
Kubrick then sent Clarke a two-page introductory letter, in which he teased the possibility of creating the first great science fiction film, or as he calls it “the proverbial good science fiction movie”.
And, I think we can all agree that they did indeed. Whether or not you love or hate 2001, you would probably agree that it is the most iconic science fiction movie of all time.