Steven Spielberg fought hard to stop E.T. sequel he really ‘did not want’
Steven Spielberg fought hard to stop E.T. sequel he really ‘did not want’
Share:
Steven Spielberg fought to stop a sequel to classic 80s sci-fi film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial being made. Released in 1982, the beloved family film follows the story of the titular alien left behind on Earth as he is discovered by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) who decides to keep him hidden.
![[Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/Shutterstock (1570398b) E T The Extra Terrestrial, Henry Thomas Film and Television]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_131854771-23fc-e1737974601523.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Legendary director Spielberg, 78, had already made classics including Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark before he moved on to the beloved alien movie. But when the idea of a sequel was floated, he insisted he did not have enough clout to stop the studio’s plans until E.T. became a huge success – and he used his power to make sure a second movie would never hit the big screen.
![[TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2195956122.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Speaking at the TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY event, Spielberg explained it was ‘a real hard-fought victory’ because he didn’t have any rights. ‘Before E.T., I had some rights, but I didn’t have a lot of rights. I kind of didn’t have what we call “the freeze,” where you can stop the studio from making a sequel because you control the freeze on sequels, remakes and other ancillary uses of the IP [intellectual property],’ he explained.
![[14328549 Steven Spielberg admits working with young Drew Barrymore on E.T. made him want to become a father]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237520098-3800.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=446)
‘I didn’t have that. I got it after E.T. because of its success.’. He added of a potential sequel: ‘I just did not want to make a sequel. I flirted with it for a little bit – just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story – and the only thing I could think about was a book that was written by somebody that wrote the book for it called The Green Planet, which was all going to take place at E.T.’s home.
![[TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2195956138.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
