Spielberg on Stopping a Sequel to ‘E.T.’: “That was a real hard-fought victory”
Steven Spielberg recently revealed his reasons for stopping a sequel to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Speaking alongside Drew Barrymore at an event for the TCM Classic Film Festival, Spielberg shared that this decision helped him secure stronger rights over his projects in the future.
After E.T. became a massive success in 1982, Spielberg ensured he could block sequels, remakes, or other uses of his intellectual property going forward.
At the time, Spielberg didn’t have control over such decisions. ‘That was a hard-fought victory because I didn’t have what we call “the freeze” rights,’ he explained. After E.T. shattered box office records, Spielberg gained that control, ensuring he had the final say on his future work.
Spielberg admitted he briefly considered a follow-up story, inspired by a novel called The Green Planet, which explored E.T.’s home world. However, he quickly decided the idea wouldn’t work as a movie and dropped the plan. ‘I just didn’t want to make a sequel,’ he said, adding, ‘I have no intention of ever seeing E.T. anywhere outside of this proscenium.’
Barrymore, who starred as Gertie in the film, said she understood his choice even as a child. She recalled a conversation with Spielberg where he made it clear there would be no sequel. ‘I thought it was a smart choice,’ she said. ‘Where do we go from here? It’s better to leave something perfect as it is.’
During the panel, Spielberg reflected on casting Barrymore, who was only six years old at the time. He shared how she charmed him during her audition, grilling him with questions and talking about her dream to start a punk band.
‘She had the job with the “Purple People Eater,”’ he joked. Barrymore also reminisced about her famous ‘scream test,’ where her enthusiastic performance apparently damaged the equipment.
Spielberg said working on E.T. was a special experience because it felt personal. After directing major productions like Raiders of the Lost Ark, he described E.T. as a way to relax and tell a story close to his heart. ‘It was my story,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to make the movie for me.’
The film’s success changed Spielberg’s life in unexpected ways. ‘Making E.T. made me want to be a dad,’ he admitted. Barrymore later shared how the movie also transformed her life. ‘Everything in my life is about how I got believed in by one human being,’ she said, referring to Spielberg.
Their bond has stayed strong over the years, with Barrymore describing their relationship as close and consistent. Spielberg added that he has rewatched E.T. more than any of his other films, often with his children and grandchildren. Barrymore said she has also introduced the movie to her two daughters, calling it the project she’s most proud of.
For Spielberg and Barrymore, E.T. wasn’t just a movie—it was a life-changing moment that shaped both their careers and personal lives.
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