What was the original working title of 2001: A Space Odyssey?

The original working title of 2001: A Space Odyssey was Journey Beyond the Stars.

Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke initially referred to the project privately as How the Solar System Was Won, echoing MGM’s earlier epic How the West Was Won. As development continued, Kubrick considered several alternatives, including Universe, Tunnel to the Stars, and Planetfall.

Kubrick publicly announced Journey Beyond the Stars in a February 23, 1965, press release. Only a few months later, he selected 2001: A Space Odyssey, a title inspired by Homer’s Odyssey and the filmmakers’ interest in humanity’s relationship with the universe. Clarke said the final title was entirely Kubrick’s idea.

A common mix-up is confusing the working title with the film’s literary connections. The story drew heavily on Clarke’s short fiction, especially The Sentinel, while the title’s “Odyssey” deliberately signaled a modern space-age counterpart to Homer’s ancient epic.