# Fictional events that eventually become reality? (Read the OP.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077 "2025-07-19T13:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/61 "2025-07-20T22:42:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > you have to do an hourglass search instead to make sure you’ve covered the entire thread. Uh… magnifying glass search? > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Denver is highly prone to cold and snow in late January and February, and has an open-air stadium. Clancy wrote them a dome. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/62 "2025-07-20T22:44:54Z")
and especially not in the era when the book was published. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/63 "2025-07-20T22:53:34Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > Uh… magnifying glass search? Well yeah. Dyslexia strikes again… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/64 "2025-07-21T03:23:29Z")
There is a _Monty Python_ sketch about the World Hide And Seek Championship. Not only was there a TV show called **Hunted** which is essentially that premise, but there is a YouTube channel called **Jet Lag** that literally plays Hide and Seek across continents. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/65 "2025-07-21T03:36:37Z")
Interesting… A space shuttle that never went to space. I clearly remember the first launch of STS-1 which was Columbia, so I always assumed it was the first. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/66 "2025-07-21T18:08:26Z")
You may not know but the 1971 film was named **Willy Wonka** and the Chocolate Factory because they wanted to promote the candy ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/67 "2025-07-21T18:50:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Millions of people worldwide are not watching NYC or DC live. Nor the Super Bowl, unless you define “World” in the “World Series” way… ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/68 "2025-07-21T19:07:42Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Interesting… A space shuttle that never went to space. I clearly remember the first launch of STS-1 which was Columbia, so I always assumed it was the first . Just a quick side note: There were a lot of space shuttle toys, models, etc. that came out in the 1978-1980 time frame. Many of them had “Enterprise” stickered onto the sides. [Toys like](https://www.ebay.com/itm/235036581345) [these were representative of the type](https://www.ebay.com/itm/226451424058?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=226451424058&targetid=2299003535995&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9025108&poi=&campaignid=21203633013&mkgroupid=162035688435&rlsatarget=pla-2299003535995&abcId=9407526&merchantid=8075704&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21203633013&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh_zvaPRin_zHEs4NU1NxWAxA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyvfDBhDYARIsAItzbZE6ncF-Fg1zcpLnwBx1wGYGcAF1oSRp9kP_Y9y_yGz5Rah4TRLeCNAaApnmEALw_wcB). [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VZQAAOSwB6xnLs0B/s-l1600.webp) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VZQAAOSwB6xnLs0B/s-l1600.webp) [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dssAAOSwpEBke5at/s-l1600.webp) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dssAAOSwpEBke5at/s-l1600.webp) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/69 "2025-07-21T19:14:22Z")
In the novel _Jurassic Park_, Michael Crichton says that Richard Kiley did the narration for the tour explaining the DNA recovery and cloning. When Spielberg made the film, darned if he didn’t get Richard Kiley to do that narration. (Forgive me if this has already been mentioned.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/70 "2025-07-21T19:25:19Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Millions of people worldwide are not watching NYC or DC live. > > Nor the Super Bowl, unless you define “World” in the “World Series” way… The last Super Bowl had 62 million live viewers outside of the U.S. That’s how I define “world” and “millions.” But as I mentioned the book didn’t have a typical terrorism plot. It was a false flag by terrorist to fool the U.S. into attacking the Soviet Union. Jack Ryan saved the day. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/71 "2025-07-21T19:45:13Z")
Touché, you are, of course, correct. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/72 "2025-07-21T21:28:50Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Things that would absolutely never have happened except for being referenced in a work of fiction, and they happened in the real world specifically _because_ of that work of fiction. So the first moon landing definitely would not count. There are a lot of just plain coincidences between Jules Verne’s _From the Earth to the Moon_ and Apollo 11 that aren’t accounted for by predictable technological advancement or NASA being inspired by Jules Verne. The launch from central Florida. The three man crew. The name of the spacecraft (_Columbiad/Columbia_). It’s a long list that is easily found online. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/74 "2025-07-21T21:55:38Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1021238/1): > > Starship Enterprise was named after the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier. Watch out! Scott Bakula will have your legs broke. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/75 "2025-07-21T22:40:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And a Ride at Disneyland-not based on any particular film became a hit movie franchise- Pirates of the Caribbean. Same with Jungle cruise. > > But these were easy to see coming That said, I’m pretty sure it was meant as en easy-punchline joke when ENTOURAGE built a good long storyline around the powers that be someday making a blockbuster AQUAMAN movie — you know, _years_ before Robert Downey Jr managed to rewrite the rules with IRON MAN — and, well, in time, a billion-dollar smash hit got the underwater green light in reality. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/76 "2025-07-21T23:04:57Z")
The TASER was named after Tom (A) Swift’s Electric Rifle. It’s not clear exactly how much the book inspired the invention itself, but it certainly had some similarities and the inventor thought it close enough to be worthy of a reference. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/77 "2025-07-22T00:21:58Z")
A Marvel comics artist drew the character of Nick Fury as resembling Samuel L Jackson, and then years later he was cast in the role for the MCU movies. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/78 "2025-07-22T01:58:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And a Ride at Disneyland-not based on any particular film became a hit movie franchise- Pirates of the Caribbean. I thought the Disneyland attraction was inspired by the 1950 Disney adaptation of “Treasure Island”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/79 "2025-07-22T02:40:44Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I thought the Disneyland attraction was inspired by the 1950 Disney adaptation of “Treasure Island”. No _particular_ film, but yes, that was part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/80 "2025-07-22T02:44:08Z")
In a manner similar perhaps to Frontierland wasn’t solely about Davy Crockett. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/81 "2025-07-22T03:11:12Z")
Aldous Huxley’s _ **Brave New World** _ (1932) imagined artificial wombs, which now seem to be on the horizon. He also described chemically treated embryos to influence traits—an idea that’s in the ballpark of genetic engineering, though it came long before DNA was understood. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077.md?page=5)