When Steven Spielberg had John Goodman play Fred Flintstone: “I felt like I was sandbagged”
John Goodman has a raft of impressive characters in his repertoire. Aside from the obvious likes of Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski and Sully in Monsters Inc, his recognisable face and voice can be found in everything from zany comedy Raising Arizona to gripping drama Flight via claustrophobic horror 10 Cloverfield Lane.
One of the low points of the star’s esteemed career was easily his turn in the live-action version of The Flintstones. Goodman plays Fred in this much-maligned prehistoric comedy, starring alongside Rick Moranis, Kyle MacLachlan, Halle Berry, and Elizabeth Taylor as one of many legends who tarnished their reputations by appearing in this dross. At least it was better than the sequel, Viva Rock Vegas.
While breaking down his most iconic roles (iconic doesn’t always mean good), Goodman revealed when he found out he would be stepping into the bright orange loincloth of the famous cartoon character, and it was a decision that he didn’t have any say over.
“Steven Spielberg cast me in a film called Always, and I was just in heaven. This is the best thing,” he revealed to GQ. “So on the day of the first table read, he goes, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to say something before we start. I’ve found my Fred Flintstone’. It just took the wind out of me. It’s not something I was looking forward to doing. Yeah, I felt like I was sandbagged. It was hot. It was sweaty.”
Spielberg didn’t direct The Flintstones – he was way too smart for that – but he produced Brian Levant’s movie through his company, Amblin Entertainment. Plans for a movie featuring the modern Stone Age family had been rumbling for almost a decade before it was actually released, with Superman’s Richard Donner originally envisioned to direct.
His opinion on the actual movie hasn’t changed much, but Goodman has been able to extract some fond memories from working on The Flintstones. “I got to meet Jonathan Winters, who was in a scene,” he revealed. “That was great.” He also had kind words for the man who played his onscreen best friend. “Moranis is the best,” he said of the Barney Rubble actor. “I loved showing up for work with Rick Moranis.”
Always is an often overlooked entry in Spielberg’s filmography, sandwiched between Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Hook. It stars Richard Dreyfuss as an aerial firefighter whose recklessness on the job costs him his life. He ends up reborn as an ethereal spirit, charged with guiding his girlfriend (Holly Hunter) from the great beyond. Goodman plays Al, the main character’s best friend and Hunter’s character’s confidante, and the movie is also notable for featuring Audrey Hepburn’s final cinematic performance.
Goodman may have never been directed by Spielberg again, but the two have collaborated in less direct ways. The actor voiced Hound in two of Michael Bay’s Transformers films, which Spielberg executive-produced. There’s also the case of Bee Movie, which Goodman lent his voice to and in which Spielberg is credited as ‘Cinematic Visionary Dinner Companion’, whatever that means.
After The Flinstones, all three movies Goodman and Spielberg were both credited in failed to meet expectations, to put it lightly. It’s also enough to stoke the fires of conspiracy that the reason they never partnered up again as director and star was because the actor made it clear he was strongarmed into the prehistoric comedy.
