Had there been an “ET” sequel, Steven Spielberg Would have got the titular alien to not only call home but go home. In the end, Spielberg had no desire to direct a follow -up of his iconic in 1982 film – And he had just enough sway to put his foot down.
The author said during the TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up X 92NY (via Hollywood Reporter) that “et” was a surprising hit.
“There was no pressure. I had low expectations, says Spielberg.” I thought I made a real youth movie. I did not expect any cash register, I simply wanted to get this thing through my system and out into my world. It didn’t have to be in your world; I just wanted to make the movie for me. ”
Of course, the studio wanted more. Although Spielberg says he “Just didn’t want to make a sequel“, He wondered what one would look like.
“I flirted with it for a little while – just a little to see if I (could) come up with a story – and the only thing I could think of was a book written by someone who wrote the book for the named ‘The Green Planet, As everything would take place at ET, he said. “We could all go to ET’s home and see how ET lived. But it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a movie.”
“ET” won four Oscars and became the first movie that earned more than $ 300 million in the US ticket. The global hit was highly personal for Spielberg.
“It was my story“, he said.” It wasn’t George Luca’s story, it wasn’t Peter Benchley’s story, that was my story. I had just done a number of very difficult productions (with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ as the latest), and I hadn’t thought that this would be a difficult movie to do, but it was something that came to my heart. It was something I thought about. ”
And it was something he “fought” to keep in just one movie.
“It was a real victory too hard because I had no rights. Before ‘et’ I had some rights, but I didn’t have many rights, he said.” I also had what we call the ‘freezing’, where you can Stop the studio from making a sequel because you check the freezing of sequel, remakes and other associated uses of IP. I didn’t. I got it after ‘et’ because of its success. ‘
“A” star Drew BarrymoreWho was in conversation with Spielberg at the event, remembered that he was told that there would be no “et 2” at the time.
“I remember you said,” We don’t make a sequel to “ET”, I think I was eight, “Barrymore said.” I remember thinking “Okay, it’s boring, but I totally understand.” I thought it was a smart choice. I understand it a lot. Where do we go from here? They should just compare it to the first and leave something that is perfectly lonely isolated for review. It was so sensible. ”
She added that “et” is the movie she is most proud of.
“I think ‘et’ for me is the one I am most proud of because it is the one who changed my life. There is no doubt about it, says Barrymore. “Everything in my life is about how I got to believe in a human being, and it is life that I try to honor every day.”
