The Day the Earth Stood Still: Ray Bradbury’s Bizarre "Earth Stood Still" Christmas Sequel

io9.com ^

[JoeProBono]

The original version of The Day the Earth Stood Still deliberately left audiences with many questions. Does Klaatu return to Earth? Does humanity prove itself worthy of survival? In 1981, Fox commissioned science fiction author Ray Bradbury to pen a sequel to the film. But Bradbury's script never made it to the silver screen - perhaps because it minimizes the roles of the robot and his alien master, trades Klaatu’s message of peace for a lesson on solar power, and features a Christmas love story. Bradbury’s script outline for The Day the Earth Stood Still II: The Evening of the Second Day opens on Christmas Eve, thirty years after the events of the original film. Chris Atkins, an employee at the Vehicle Assembly Building for the Apollo Mission, witnesses the landing of an alien spacecraft, a sight he half-remembers from his childhood. It is revealed that someone left the spacecraft, and NASA officials are on the lookout for him, her, or it. But Atkins has a vague feeling about the ship, a feeling he describes with a vague bit of dialogue:

[dead]

I think if aliens do come to planet earth to destroy our species, it will be because we keep infecting the galactic airwaves with images of Keanu Reeves attempting to act.

[netmilsmom]

>>I think if aliens do come to planet earth to destroy our species, it will be because we keep infecting the galactic airwaves with images of Keanu Reeves attempting to act.<<

You win!!!!!!!!!!

[mewzilla]

I think if aliens do come to planet earth to destroy our species, it will be because we keep infecting the galactic airwaves with images of Keanu Reeves attempting to act.

LOL. Let's hope the Omicronians don't see it.

[Oztrich Boy]

Well it is Bradbury you're talking about-it's not like he's a real science-fiction writer; he's the English teachers' favorite sci-fi author.

The Simpsons Episode "Lisa's Substitute,"

Martin: As your president, I would demand a science-fiction library, featuring the overlords of the genre: Asimov, Bester, Clarke!

Kid: What about Ray Bradbury?

Martin: (dismissingly) I am aware of his work.

But Bradbury's script never made it to the silver screen - perhaps because it minimizes the roles of the robot and his alien master

Not quite the case. They chose the wrong author. Shoulda chosen Robert Sheckley - Gort was a Watchbird.

[Oztrich Boy]

Eros: No, you hold on. First was your firecracker, a harmless explosive. Then your hand grenade: you began to kill your own people, a few at a time. Then the bomb. Then a larger bomb: many people are killed at one time. Then your scientists stumbled upon the atom bomb, split the atom. Then the hydrogen bomb, where you actually explode the air itself. Now you can arrange the total destruction of the entire universe served by our sun: The only explosion left is the Solaranite. .... Guess I shouldn’t have mentioned that one < /Hagrid>

[Hyzenthlay]

LOL!

Although, I’d be more concerned about infecting the galactic airwaves with stuff like that Tila Tequila chick, or pretty much anything on MTV, VH1, any reality show, late-night infomercials, etc... compared to that, Keanu Reeves trying to act isn’t all that bad.

[JoeProBono]

"Keanu Reeves attempting to act"

[JoeProBono]

The original Gort head from "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

She was also in Hud opposite Paul Newman and In Harm's Way opposite John Wayne. A very fine actress.