The last time that anyone dared to make a sequel to 2001 was in 1984, when Peter Hyams directed 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Thirty years later, the final chapter in Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey series may finally get a live action adaptation.
Syfy has announced that it is developing Clarke’s 3001: The Final Odyssey as a miniseries produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions. Clarke’s Space Odyssey saga began as a short story called The Sentinel before Clarke and director Stanley Kubrick collaborated on the 2001: A Space Odyssey feature film. Clarke subsequent wrote the full length 2001 novel and three literary sequels, with 3001 finishing the tale in 1997.
Clarke’s Space Odyssey novels were notoriously out of exact continuity with each other, as he changed events and details in each subsequent story. But the 3001 novel and its Syfy miniseries are meant to act as a final sequel to 2001. In the novel, the story follows Frank Poole, the astronaut who was seemingly left to die in space by HAL-9000 during the events of 2001. In the year 3001, Poole’s body is found and he is revived to explore life in the future just as the alien monoliths are about to render judgment on humanity.
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The estates of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke have reportedly given their blessing to the new adaptation of 3001. Stuart Beattie (Pirates Of The Caribbean) is set to write the miniseries and executive produce it as well.
In a statement, Scott said “I have always been a fan of Clarke’s extraordinary ‘Odyssey’ series, and certainly Kubrick’s adaptation of 2001. I am thrilled to be part of bringing that legacy to audiences and continuing the great cinematic tradition that this story and its creators deserve.”
Syfy is also adapting Clarke’s novel, Childhood’s End as a miniseries, with production slated to begin later this year.
