The Untold Story of Kubrick's Unmade Film: A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Stanley Kubrick and His Unmade Films
• The Genesis of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"
• The Long Gestation Period
• The Unique Approach to Story Development
• The Involvement of Multiple Writers
• Kubrick's Collaboration with Steven Spielberg
• The Evolving Plot and Character Development
• The Challenges Faced in Production
• Kubrick's Perfectionism and the Project's Failure
• Conclusion

Stanley Kubrick and His Unmade Films

Stanley Kubrick was a renowned filmmaker known for his meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling style. Throughout his career, he made only 13 films but left behind a legacy of unrealized projects. One of these projects, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," holds a special place in the hearts of Kubrick enthusiasts. In this article, we will dive into the genesis of the story, the project's failure, and how Kubrick's declining health affected his ability to complete the film.

The Genesis of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" had the longest gestation period among all of Kubrick's projects. It began in 1976 when Kubrick first approached sci-fi Writer Brian Aldiss for a new story idea. Unlike Kubrick's previous films, which were often adaptations of existing literary material, "A.I." aimed to expand upon a short story by Aldiss titled "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long."

Kubrick intended to replicate the success he achieved with "2001: A Space Odyssey," where he transformed Arthur C. Clarke's short story "The Sentinel" into a groundbreaking sci-fi epic. Inspired by Aldiss's vignette, Kubrick saw the potential to create a thought-provoking film about a robot child yearning for a mother's love in an overpopulated future. The project quickly gained Momentum, involving the collaboration of multiple writers.

The Long Gestation Period

From 1976 to 1996, the "A.I." project went through various stages of development, making it one of Kubrick's most ambitious and intricate undertakings. Kubrick's desire to create a deeply emotional and episodic film posed significant challenges that required extensive exploration and collaboration. The project's lengthy gestation period allowed for the involvement of several writers, each adding their own ideas and perspectives to the evolving story.

The Unique Approach to Story Development

Unlike many of his other films, where he worked with established source material, Kubrick approached "A.I." with a more improvisational and experimental mindset. He encouraged the writers to explore different story fragments and variations, incorporating elements from myths, legends, and archetypes of Western culture. This creative process resulted in a vast array of possibilities, contributing to the richness and complexity of the story.

The Involvement of Multiple Writers

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" stands out among Kubrick's projects due to its involvement of multiple writers. Brian Aldiss, Ian Watson, and Sara Maitland were among the writers who contributed to the screenplay over the years. Each writer brought their own unique perspective and storytelling style to the project, shaping the narrative and characters in different ways.

Kubrick's collaboration with Steven Spielberg further added to the multi-dimensional nature of the project. Spielberg, initially acting as a consultant, eventually took over the project after Kubrick's passing. This collaboration brought together two visionary directors, each adding their own creative input and interpretation to the story.

The Evolving Plot and Character Development

The plot and character development of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" went through numerous revisions and iterations. Kubrick's initial vision centered around a robot child, David, longing for his mother's love in a dystopian future. However, as the project progressed, additional layers and complexities were introduced, such as espionage, artificial satellites, and the exploration of human and robot coexistence.

The various writers involved in the project contributed their own ideas and interpretations to the evolving plot. However, Kubrick's perfectionism sometimes led to the rejection of promising and innovative ideas, creating a sense of frustration among the writers involved.

The Challenges Faced in Production

While the story development of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" progressed, Kubrick also faced technical challenges in realizing the film's ambitious vision. The use of advanced special effects and the creation of lifelike androids proved to be significant obstacles for the production team.

Kubrick sought assistance from Industrial Light & Magic and James Cameron's Digital Domain in tackling these technical challenges. However, despite the progress made in visualizing the futuristic world and robotic characters, the production never reached the point of actual filming. The project remained in a perpetual state of pre-production, with Kubrick continuously exploring new possibilities and refining the story.

Kubrick's Perfectionism and the Project's Failure

The ultimate failure of the "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" project can be attributed, in part, to Kubrick's own perfectionism and his declining health in his later years. Kubrick's meticulous attention to detail and his constant exploration of new ideas contributed to the film's prolonged development process. He continuously sought the perfect combination of plot, themes, and characters, often discarding previously approved ideas in favor of new possibilities.

However, with the absence of set production deadlines and external pressures, Kubrick had the freedom to indulge in an endless creative exploration. This freedom proved to be a double-edged sword, as it prevented the project from reaching a definitive conclusion. Despite the tremendous efforts and contributions of the writers involved, the project never advanced to the production stage, remaining an unrealized film in Kubrick's filmography.

Conclusion

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" stands as one of Stanley Kubrick's most ambitious yet unmade films. The project's genesis, marked by a lengthy gestation period and the involvement of multiple writers, reflects Kubrick's determination to create a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film. However, the project's failure can be attributed to Kubrick's own perfectionism, declining health, and the seemingly limitless creative exploration that prevented it from reaching the production stage.

Although Steven Spielberg eventually took over the project and directed the film, it remains an unfinished business for Kubrick. The enduring legacy of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" lies in our fascination with the possibilities and what might have been if Kubrick had been able to bring his vision to fruition. It serves as a reminder of the complexities, challenges, and ephemeral nature of the filmmaking process.

Pros:

• The extensive exploration and collaboration brought fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the project.
• The involvement of multiple writers added depth and complexity to the plot and characters.
• Kubrick's perfectionism pushed the creative boundaries and raised the bar for the film.

Cons:

• The project's prolonged development and endless exploration prevented the film from reaching the production stage.
• Kubrick's declining health and perfectionism created challenges in making decisions and finalizing the script.
• The technical challenges in realizing the film's ambitious vision contributed to the project's failure.

Highlights

• Stanley Kubrick's unmade film "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" had the longest gestation period among all his projects.
• The project involved multiple writers, including Brian Aldiss, Ian Watson, and Sara Maitland, each contributing their unique ideas to the evolving story.
• Kubrick's collaboration with Steven Spielberg added another layer of creative input and interpretation to the project.
• The film's ambitious vision and technical challenges posed hurdles during the production process.
• Kubrick's perfectionism and declining health played a significant role in the project's failure.

FAQ

Q: Why did "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" never reach the production stage under Kubrick's direction? A: The project's failure can be attributed to a combination of factors, including Kubrick's perfectionism, the technical challenges involved, and his declining health in his later years. The project remained in a perpetual state of pre-production, with Kubrick continuously exploring new ideas and possibilities.

Q: Did Steven Spielberg successfully complete and release "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"? A: Yes, after Kubrick's passing, Spielberg took over the project and directed the film, which was released in 2001. However, it should be noted that Spielberg's interpretation and direction differ from what Kubrick envisioned for the film.

Q: What were the main themes explored in "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"? A: The film delves into themes of artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, the longing for love and acceptance, and the nature of humanity. It raises questions about the limits of technology and the ethical implications of creating sentient beings.

Q: How did Kubrick's collaboration with writers contribute to the development of the film's story? A: Kubrick encouraged the writers to explore various story fragments, incorporating elements from myths, legends, and archetypes. This collaborative approach allowed for a diverse range of ideas and perspectives to shape the narrative and enrich the film's themes.

Q: What impact did Kubrick's declining health have on the project? A: Kubrick's declining health affected his ability to complete the project. His meticulous attention to detail and perfectionism, coupled with his desire to create something unique and emotionally profound, contributed to the extended development process and ultimately led to the project's failure.