Sequels and if they need to exist is at all times an attention-grabbing dialog. As a fan, should you like one thing you’ll need extra media. However, no one desires a nasty sequel as a result of there isn’t a lot substance for a sequel. Director Steven Spielberg shares his ‘hard-fought victory’ to not have a sequel to his basic E.T.. And whereas I agree why it was higher to not have one, the concept he had was nonetheless type of cool.
On the TCM Basic Movie Pageant: New York Pop-Up x 92NY occasion, Steven Spielberg recalled when he halted a sequel to probably the greatest sci-fi films, E.T. The Additional Terrestrial. On the time, it was a tough time, not in favor of the sequel, however in opposition to. Spielberg defined why, on the time, this combat was one thing so laborious fought. On the occasion (through The Hollywood Reporter) he stated:
That was an actual hard-fought victory as a result of I didn’t have any rights. Earlier than E.T., I had some rights, however I didn’t have a number of rights. I type of didn’t have what we name ‘the freeze,’ the place you possibly can cease the studio from making a sequel since you management the freeze on sequels, remakes and different ancillary makes use of of the IP. I didn’t have that. I obtained it after E.T. due to its success.
Again in 2023 the subject of a sequel got here up as a result of the solid of the film got here onto Drew Barrymore’s daytime present. Whereas Barrymore herself was a toddler on the time, the older solid members introduced up that there have been talks within the 80’s. Alas, the sequel was finally squashed. When requested why he himself didn’t need the sequel to be made, Spielberg had this to say:
I simply didn’t wish to make a sequel. I flirted with it for a little bit bit — just a bit bit to see if I [could] consider a narrative — and the one factor I might take into consideration was a guide that was written by someone that wrote the guide for it known as The Inexperienced Planet, which was all going to happen at E.T.’s residence. We have been all going to have the ability to go to E.T.’s residence and see how E.T. lived. But it surely was higher as a novel than I believe it might have been as a movie. … I’ve no intention ever of seeing E.T. wherever exterior of this proscenium.
The E.T. sequel has been talked about earlier than, just a few years again actor Henry Thomas spoke concerning the concept, and the way within the ’80s all talks a couple of sequel have been fairly rapidly squashed by Spielberg. Between that and the unique idea for E.T. was nearer to sci-fi horror than the household pleasant movie it is called, and the truth that the ending was purported to be very completely different; I can perceive why on the time the filmmaker simply wished to maintain this as a standalone movie.
On paper, the idea is intriguing. As somebody who grew up on E.T. and different Spielberg basic films, the concept of seeing The Inexperienced Planet on display would have been cool. In case you’ve ever been on the experience at Common, it’s based mostly on the guide The Inexperienced Planet, and as a child it was actually cool to see a glimpse of the planet. (Particularly should you grew up in Orlando going to Common each different weekend like I did). So whereas I’d have favored to see the film, and the idea is one thing I type of dig, I finally agree that E.T. ought to simply keep as its personal standalone movie.
Fortunately for us, Common Studios Orlando nonetheless has the basic E.T. Journey regardless of all its adjustments. So, we are able to nonetheless go to The Inexperienced Planet that means, and the guide E.T.: The E-book of The Inexperienced Planet by William Kotzwinkle could be discovered on Amazon.