Steven Spielberg Reflects on Blocking ‘E.T.’ Sequel and Its Impact on His Career

The director discusses his “hard-fought victory” to prevent a sequel and how it led him to secure creative control over future projects.

At a recent TCM Classic Film Festival event in New York City, director Steven Spielberg shared insights into his determined efforts to prevent a sequel to his 1982 classic, ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.’ He revealed that this experience significantly influenced his approach to securing creative rights for his subsequent films.

“That was a real hard-fought victory because I didn’t have any rights,” Spielberg explained. “Before E.T., I had some rights, but I didn’t have a lot of rights.” He elaborated on the concept of “the freeze,” a term referring to the ability to prevent studios from producing sequels, remakes, or other derivative works without the creator’s consent. “I didn’t have that. I got it after E.T. because of its success.”

Reflecting on his decision-making process, Spielberg admitted that he briefly considered developing a sequel. “I flirted with it for a little bit—just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story,” he said. The only concept that came to mind was based on the novel ‘The Green Planet,’ which explored E.T.’s home world. However, Spielberg concluded that this narrative was “better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film.”

Actress Drew Barrymore, who portrayed Gertie in the original film, supported Spielberg’s choice. “I remember you saying, ‘We are not making a sequel to E.T.’ I think I was eight,” she recalled. “I thought it was a smart choice. I very much understand it. Where do we go from here? They’re just going to compare it to the first and leave something that’s perfect alone in isolation open to scrutiny. It made so much sense.”

Spielberg’s experience with ‘E.T.’ led him to prioritize securing creative control over his future projects, ensuring that he retained the authority to decide on potential sequels or adaptations. This approach has allowed him to maintain the integrity of his original works throughout his illustrious career.