Find out which director almost made a cameo in Brad Bird's 'Tomorrowland'

Many elements are in play in Brad Bird's Tomorrowland, but of course even more were set in motion in his and Damon Lindelof's initial screenplay. As it turns out, at one point plans were to bring one of the most renowned directors shine on the screen in a cameo only a few may have truly appreciated.

In an interview with Disney Insider, via The Playlist, when asked if there was anything envisioned but not placed into the movie, Bird said a fictional Stanley Kubrick was originally set to star. He would come early on, when we follow a young Frank Walker, played by Thomas Robinson in this moment, go around the 1964 World Fair and indirectly runs into the filmmaker.

"There was, briefly, a storyboarded moment where young Frank went to a part of the World’s Fair called To the Moon and Beyond," Bird said. "It was a movie that was shot in 70 mm and projected in what they called Spacearium 360 by Cinerama. And he was there watching this, which was projected on the ceiling and then he leans back and sitting next to him was Stanley Kubrick, who was also at the World’s Fair and in seeing that film, tracked down Douglas Trumbull to do the effects for 2001."

Although ultimately unnecessary, that would certainly have been a fun little nod to cinephiles who see the film this weekend. Of course, based on how busy the new Disney movie becomes, the director knew there "wasn't enough room for it." After all, there were many cool things at the 1964 World Fair, so not everything can be explored in this brief segment.

Additionally, although inspired by the Disneyland ride, there were no plans for Walt Disney himself to appear in the movie. He was going to be referenced, however, in the Blast From The Past section. This can be seen on the Blu-Ray, according to the director.

While Kubrick and Disney don't appear in the movie, there are quite a few things to like in Tomorrowland, as I'll note in my eventual review. In the meantime, however, it's fun to thing what would have been if these famous filmmaking pioneer in this new movie.

Image courtesy of INFphoto.com