George Lucas Admired 2001: A Space Odyssey More Than Star Wars

by

George Lucas believed that Star Wars was something extraordinary, but there was one science fiction film he felt was “truly exceptional” instead. It might seem surprising, but in 1977, many people didn’t anticipate that Star Wars would become a success. Even Steven Spielberg doubted the movie’s potential success, although he acknowledged Lucas for being too optimistic when he predicted the film would earn only $15-20 million worldwide (it ultimately made over $775 million). In truth, Lucas wasn’t very certain about the movie’s prospects.

Star Wars undeniably made a fortune for Lucas, yet he consistently acknowledged that he built upon the works of great pioneers. As early as 1977, he openly admitted to interviewers that Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was the true masterpiece.

In my opinion, Stanley Kubrick crafted an exceptional science fiction film, one that may prove challenging for others to surpass. While it shares a technical level with films like Star Wars, I firmly believe that 2001 outshines it in quality.

In an interview featured in the documentary “Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001”, Lucas shared his reasons for holding that film in high regard. According to him, it was a groundbreaking moment when science fiction started to be treated with respect, as opposed to the B-movie style prevalent earlier, especially in the 1950s, which often featured giant monsters, spiders, and other elements emphasizing size rather than substance.

Lucas Drew Inspiration From 2001 When He Made Star Wars

In creating Star Wars, Lucas adopted many similar methods as Kubrick had done, a fact noted by film historians who highlight two key recurring elements: the deployment of model kits for spaceships and starfighters, and the enchanting musical score. While most science fiction films at the time opted for electronic soundtracks, Kubrick experimented with stock music during post-production and grew fond of it, choosing to preserve it. In turn, Lucas took inspiration from this choice, recruiting John Williams to compose the memorable Star Wars themes.

Astute observers have frequently pointed out visual resemblances between the Millennium Falcon’s docking and certain scenes in 2001: A Space Odyssey. This isn’t mere happenstance; Lucas deliberately fashioned these similarities as tributes, acknowledging the filmmaker he admired greatly for creating an outstanding work. It’s fascinating to contemplate Star Wars as part of the Kubrick cinematic lineage.

2001: A Space Odyssey Changed The World

People often fail to recognize the profound influence that well-known films can have. As space historian Howard McCurdy has pointed out, the movie “2001” reshaped public perception of space exploration; it came to be viewed as daring and awe-inspiring, vast and thrilling. The future portrayed by Kubrick was one that captured the imagination – featuring space stations, voyages to Jupiter, and lunar bases. When 2001 finally arrived, many felt let down.

Interestingly enough, it was during the year 2001 that George Lucas found himself back in the Star Wars universe, despite the fact that 2001 itself had come and gone. He had re-entered this galaxy in 1999, immersed in the production of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Yet, he held Kubrick’s work in high regard throughout his filmmaking journey, continually striving to surpass boundaries, just as his role model had done prior.

Read More

2025-05-14 20:41