Steven Spielberg says James Bond “consistently turned me down” and now “can’t afford me”
Director Steven Spielberg has opened up about his failed attempts to direct a James Bond movie.
The Oscar-winner, whose new movie Disclosure Day, starring Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt, is out in UK cinemas now, discussed his history with 007 on the latest episode of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.
Following the success of Jaws in 1975, Spielberg first attempted to use his new profile in Hollywood to direct a Bond movie, sharing, “I approached Cubby Broccoli after Jaws was a big hit. I’d always wanted to make a James Bond film from the day I saw Dr. No, so I called Cubby after Jaws and volunteered. I said, ‘If you need a director, I would love to direct one.'”
However, much to Spielberg’s frustration, Broccoli “said no”, but this wouldn’t be the end of the director’s desire to direct Bond.
He added, “Then Cubby called me again after Close Encounters came out, which was another big hit. A few years later, he said, ‘We’d like to use the five notes in Moonraker.’ And I said, ‘I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you permission to use the five notes if you let me direct a Bond film.’ And he said no. But I gave him the five notes anyway.
The director elaborated on the rejections, “So they consistently turned me down – at least, Broccoli did. He never explained why he wasn’t letting me into the Bond family.”
However, in the long run, those consistent rejections did eventually end up being a blessing in the long run for Spielberg, who added, But when I told that story to George Lucas in 1977, when we were in Hawaii together getting ready for the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, he said, ‘I have something better than Bond. It’s called Indiana Smith,’ which is what it was called at the time.”
Spielberg proudly added, He told me the premise of the Indiana Jones series, and that’s how I got that job.”
Now, there’s no chance of Spielberg stepping up to direct a Bond movie, honestly stating, “So if they ever asked me to make a Bond film now, my answer would be: ‘You can’t afford me.’”
Denis Villeneuve has been tasked with directing the first Bond movie under the Amazon MGM Studios regime, which is currently in the early stages.
It still remains to be seen who will be playing 007, but Callum Turner recently responded to rumours linking him to the role, sharing, “I’ll tell you what’s so funny about the Bond thing: Even your best friends ask you, people text you that you haven’t spoken to for 10 years — and you know nothing.”
He elaborated, “It’s such a weird thing of something happening and nothing happening at all.” Turner then insisted, “I genuinely know nothing,” and stated that he finds the situation “quite amusing”.
Watch or listen to The Rest Is Entertainment wherever you get your podcasts.
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