The existence of a sequel is hinged on, if not entirely then at least to a substantial extent, the success of its predecessor. Look at the Jurassic Park universe. Steven Spielberg helmed one on-screen adaptation in the ’90s and in the blink of an eye, it ended up spawning a whole franchise of dinosaurs.
But even with the cosmic success of a particular Spielberg classic, the movie has never been greenlit for a sequel, and under the esteemed filmmaker’s watch, it never will.
Why This Iconic Steven Spielberg Film Will Never Get A Sequel
It’s no secret that Steven Spielberg shares a strong emotional connection with many of his cinematic masterpieces. From Schindler’s List to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, some of Hollywood’s biggest hits stem from the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s personal experiences. And it is precisely because of the sentimental value attached to the latter that Spielberg will never create its sequel.
Despite its glorious victory, the Jaws creator deemed it best to steer clear of an E.T. sequel to preserve the emotion and essence inherent in the 1982 film rather than weaponizing it to make more money. Spielberg said as much in his Rolling Stone interview, making it clear as day that a second film would never be on the table.
While I’ve thought about it, I still feel that all an E.T. sequel could do is disappoint people. Nothing will be as innocent. A sequel would be a business decision, and I am not prepared to make such a decision, using E.T. as the trump card …
I have personal feelings about this. I’ve gotten a lot of things from him in my life, beyond the commercial success. I’m not sure I want to trade on that — just to do a movie that would bring in $300 million. I’m not chasing dollars now.
The personal element in question alludes to the time of his parents’ divorce and the monumental impact it bore on Spielberg as a teenager (via Universal Pictures All-Access). It makes much more sense then, why he wouldn’t want to approach the prospect of a sequel with a ten-foot pole.
What he would love, however, is for his beloved crown jewel of a film to be treated like Disney movies often do.
Steven Spielberg Wants Theatrical Reruns of E.T. Like Disney Films
The Duel director might be against a second E.T. movie but he holds no reservations whatsoever for its cinematic re-release.
There’s a tradition that Disney has stuck to since time immemorial wherein the studio re-releases its most treasured classics every seven years. And that’s the future Spielberg wants for the ’80s adventure outing (via Rolling Stone).
I would love E.T. to be handled the way Disney used to handle their feature films. I would like E.T. to be released every five to seven years in movie theaters for another generation of children. E.T. is not a home cassette or cable experience. It has to be shared in a theater.
The sci-fi saga featuring the titular extraterrestrial who is left behind on Earth became the highest-grossing movie at the time of its theatrical run and held the coveted #1 position for 81 weeks straight (via Collider). Not to mention, the whopping sum of roughly $792 million that E.T. banked worldwide only added to its already dazzling charm(via Box Office Mojo).
So, it’s not too far-fetched to assume that it would continue to win over people’s hearts in the future too.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial can be rented on Apple TV+.
