There was nearly a follow-up to E.T., but fortunately for us, director Steven Spielberg was adamant about shutting it down. Sequels often struggle to live up to the original, and while there are rare gems that surpass their predecessors, it’s a gamble most of us would rather avoid. E.T. stands as one of those timeless classics that just doesn’t need a continuation. As it turns out, there was a time when a sequel was on the table. Spielberg revealed during the TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY event that he had to fight tooth and nail to prevent it from happening, especially since he didn’t initially have the rights. This was covered in detail by The Hollywood Reporter.
Before E.T., Spielberg didn’t have significant control over sequel production. “I kind of didn’t have what we call ‘the freeze,’ where you can stop the studio from making a sequel because you control the freeze on sequels, remakes, and other ancillary uses of the IP,” he said. It was only after E.T.’s monumental success that he secured this power, which was a game-changer for him. He was firm that he didn’t want to proceed with another film.
For a brief moment, Spielberg entertained the idea of concocting a story, inspired by a novel called ‘The Green Planet.’ This concept proposed a grand reveal of E.T.’s home world, showing the life and environment from which E.T. originated. However, Spielberg ultimately concluded it was a narrative better suited for a novel rather than a movie.
If we had ended up with a sequel, who knows what kind of cinematic landscape we’d be in now? Spielberg’s decision not only preserved the magic of the original film but also reassured fans. With E.T. once holding the record as the highest-grossing film of all time, it certainly proved that it didn’t need a sequel to make its mark.
