“I spent almost half a year developing it”: Steven Spielberg on how he regrets not making ‘Rain Man’
Steven Spielberg may be one of the most prolific filmmakers in history, but even he has a long list of unrealised projects. As the visionary behind some of Hollywood’s most beloved films—Jaws, ET, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and many more—Spielberg’s contributions to cinema have cemented an almost unbeatable legacy. His movies have not only dominated the box office but have also pushed the boundaries of filmmaking, advancing the art form in ways that continue to influence generations of storytellers.
Early in his career, Spielberg quickly gained critical acclaim and industry recognition, allowing him the rare freedom to choose his projects carefully. As his box office successes mounted, so did the range of opportunities available to him. However, despite his incredible achievements, there remain films he will likely never bring to life. From a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr to a sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, many of his dream projects remain unrealised. Now, as Spielberg approaches the twilight of his career, it seems increasingly unlikely that he will have the time to tackle many of these long-held ambitions.
In addition to the films he never started making, Spielberg had to give up multiple projects to prioritise other productions. With such a busy schedule, the filmmaker had to ensure his time was best spent on the projects he cared for most. While some of them never saw the light of day, others were picked up by other filmmakers after Spielberg decided to pass on them.
Since Spielberg is among the most successful directors in cinema history, he is usually very thoughtful about the projects he chooses and the ones he abandons. However, one film that Spielberg gave up on later became an indispensable part of popular culture, which is why he regrets giving it up.
That film is none other than Rain Man, Barry Levinson’s 1988 road movie, which starred Dustin Hoffman as a person with autism who Tom Cruise exploits. While talking about the film’s development, Spielberg said: “With Rain Man, I spent almost half a year developing it with Dustin and Tom Cruise and Ron Bass”.
Spielberg was dedicated to the screenplay for Rain Man, but he had to keep pushing the deadlines for various reasons. Ultimately, it began to clash with his plans for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which was set to come out on Memorial Day in 1989.
“When I saw that I was going to go past January 12th and that I would have to step down from Indy 3, the promise I made to George was more important than making Rain Man,” the director recalled. “So, with great regret, because I really wanted to work with Dustin and Tom, I stepped down from the movie.”
The picture has gone on to become a defining piece of cinema for all those involved. It not only marked out Tom Cruise as a captivating leading man once more but also showcased the wild skills of Dustin Hoffman as one of the finest actors of his generation as he deftly worked around the difficulties of portraying such a character. Although Spielberg’s take on the unique story would have been interesting, Barry Levinson did a fantastic job with the project. Rain Man earned eight nominations at the Academy Awards and won four, including a ‘Best Actor’ win for Hoffman, who delivered a definitive performance.
