Steven Spielberg Fought to Save ‘E.T.’ From a Sequel Nightmare

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One of Hollywood’s most renowned and successful filmmakers, known for creating some of the most iconic films and characters, is this individual. His initial major success, “Jaws,” paved the way for what would later become known as the summer blockbuster. Since then, this director has consistently released a new project every few years, along with executive producing numerous other classics. It’s worth noting that in his extensive career spanning 36 films he directed, only four were sequels. Remarkably, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” almost became one of those sequels…but the director prevented it from happening.

Director Steven Spielberg, who is careful with his films and the tales they convey, rarely takes on sequels, having only directed the Jurassic Park sequel “The Lost World” along with the first three installments of the Indiana Jones series. Yet, when it came to a potential E.T. sequel, Spielberg stood firm against its production. During the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival Pop-Up event in New York, Spielberg expressed joy about thwarting “E.T. 2” from being made, stating:

The win was hard-earned since I initially had limited rights. Prior to ‘E.T.’, I possessed some rights, but they were not extensive; specifically, I lacked the power to halt the production of sequels and adaptations, known as the ‘freeze’. This control over sequels, remakes, and other intellectual property uses was something I didn’t have initially. However, I gained this right following the success of ‘E.T.’.

The Massive Success of ‘E.T.’ Made Steven Spielberg Briefly Consider a Sequel

Initially hesitant about the sequel, the renowned director did ponder over the plot for the movie, referring specifically to E.T.. This film, a box office phenomenon, became the highest-grossing motion picture in history upon its debut. It was met with widespread acclaim and is now hailed as one of the best sci-fi films ever produced. The profound cultural influence of this movie prompted Spielberg to consider creating a sequel, as he revealed at the TCM event.

He expressed that he had no intention of creating a follow-up. For a brief moment, he toyed with the idea to explore potential storylines, but all he could envision was a book titled “The Green Planet” which was penned by the author who wrote the original book. This book would delve into E.T.’s home life and offer a glimpse into his world. However, he believed that it would have been more captivating as a novel rather than a movie adaptation.

Out of Steven Spielberg’s directed sequels, only “The Lost World” and “Kingdom of The Crystal Skull” are often discussed as less well-received follow-ups for renowned series. Interestingly, both movies were commercial triumphs despite receiving mixed criticism. “Crystal Skull,” in particular, garnered mostly positive reviews, earning a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Spielberg’s unique storytelling abilities have led to his remarkable success, and although a sequel to “E.T.” never materialized, we can anticipate more films from him, with a new project scheduled for 2026.

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2025-01-27 19:03