One movie that went under the radar, the 2021 post-apocalyptic film Finch, starring Tom Hanks, was directed by none other than Miguel Sapochnik, known for his work on House of the Dragon as well as Game of Thrones. Making it happen was none other than Steven Spielberg himself, who reached out to the Game of Thrones director to bring the project to life.
In a recent interview, Miguel Sapochnik elaborated on how Spielberg’s involvement was instrumental in making Finch fly.
How Steven Spielberg Convinced the House of the Dragon Showrunner to Direct Finch
Finch is a sci-fi adventure starring Tom Hanks as a genius engineer surviving a post-apocalyptic world with his trusty dog and a quirky robot sidekick.
Talking to CinemaBlend, Finch’s director Miguel Sapochnik, who also happens to be the showrunner of two of the biggest shows in the world, House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones revealed a game-changing phone call that sealed the film’s fate. Sapochnik spilled the beans on his crucial chat with Steven Spielberg, which not only secured Finch a spot at Amblin Partners but also kickstarted his journey to the big screen. He revealed,
One of the things that happened when I first was approached by Amblin to make the movie, we had been shopping it around town, and I was in Belfast on Season 8 (of Game of Thrones), and I got home and got a phone call saying, ‘Steven Spielberg is going to call you in the next 15 minutes.’
I bricked it. Like, I completely just didn’t know what to do with myself! … Then the phone rang, and it was him. He was very easy to talk to, and I sat in my kitchen for three quarters of an hour and we talked about films, and this film.
That conversation also shaped the tone of the film, as he further continued,
One of the things that evolved from our conversations is the idea of, ‘What is an Amblin movie?’ And I think Amblin is this kind of — they are adult family movies. They have a certain quirk to them. There’s a certain darkness to them. But in the end, they are made for families.
And I feel like Steven was interested in this movie because for him, it fit into that Amblin territory. Once we talked about it, and I understood better what they were going after, I feel like I also steered the movie towards that, as well.
Sitting in a kitchen, chatting with Steven Spielberg about a movie is an experience many dream of, and it certainly worked like magic for Sapochnik, bringing him on board almost instantly.
Why Did the 2021 Sci-Fi Film Starring Tom Hanks Fail to Impress?
Finch tells the touching tale of a dying man, his dog, and a new robot navigating a harsh, sun-scorched world after a catastrophic event. While Tom Hanks shines, the film plays it safe, sticking to familiar themes without breaking new ground.
For those hungry for something new, the film might leave one yearning for more. With a 74% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64% audience score, the film hovers around being just average. It lacks the gripping sense of danger that could elevate its story.
While it serves as a decent time-killer, the movie falls short of becoming anything more, even with all the hype surrounding Spielberg’s involvement.
Finch is available to stream on Apple TV.
