Steven Spielberg Recalls Fight to Prevent E.T. Sequel

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Steven Spielberg is widely recognized as one of cinema’s greatest directors, yet this status didn’t come easily. In a recent conversation, Spielberg shared insights about the significant achievement he accomplished – preventing any follow-up to his iconic film E.T. from being produced.

What did Steven Spielberg say about an E.T. sequel?

At a recent TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY gathering, as reported by THR, Spielberg discussed with E.T.’s Drew Barrymore his efforts to prevent an E.T. sequel from being produced unless he was directly involved in the process.

As a gamer, I can relate to the struggle when you’re stuck without any power-ups or extra lives. Just like Spielberg, I was in a tight spot before E.T., my character was underpowered and had limited abilities. But after E.T., things changed dramatically. I got the ultimate power-up – control over sequels, remakes, and other uses of the IP. Before that, the studio could make a sequel at will, but after E.T.’s success, I earned the right to freeze them when needed. It was a hard-fought victory for sure!

In addition, Spielberg hinted at the possibility of an E.T. sequel, explaining why he chose not to pursue it despite having the chance, presumably.

Speilberg stated, “I had no desire to create a follow-up. For a brief moment, I considered the possibility of a sequel, just to see if I could come up with a storyline. However, the only concept that came to mind was a book titled ‘The Green Planet’, which was penned by the author who wrote the original book. This book would have explored E.T.’s home life. Yet, I believe it would have been more effective as a novel rather than a movie.

From my perspective as an enthusiast, I’d express it like this: “I, personally, have no plans whatsoever to witness E.T. beyond the confines of this stage.

First appearing in 1982, E.T., the Alien, was an enormous hit. This science fiction film brought in over $790 million at the box office during its run, making it the highest-grossing movie ever until Steven Spielberg surpassed that record with Jurassic Park in 1993. E.T. garnered nine nominations for Academy Awards and took home four: Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing.

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2025-01-29 02:11