Legendary director Steven Spielberg recently discussed his decision against creating a sequel to his iconic film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." In a conversation with Drew Barrymore at the TCM Classic Film Festival in New York, Spielberg revealed that he briefly considered a sequel based on the book "The Green Planet," which explores E.T.'s home world. However, he ultimately felt the story was better suited to the novel format.
Spielberg also touched upon the challenges he faced in preventing a sequel early in his career, before he had the industry clout to "freeze" the intellectual property. He gained this control after the immense success of "E.T.", which was once the highest-grossing film of all time.
Barrymore, who starred in the film as a child, recalled Spielberg's early aversion to a sequel. She expressed understanding and agreement with his decision, recognizing the potential risks of tarnishing the original's legacy.
Spielberg also addressed the controversy surrounding the 2002 re-release of "E.T.", in which he made digital alterations, including replacing guns with walkie-talkies. He admitted this was a "mistake" and a valuable lesson learned. The backlash from fans, even in the early days of social media, taught him to respect the original vision of his films and avoid tampering with the past. He vowed never to repeat such alterations in any of his films again.
