When it comes to the best movies of the 1980s, there are few films more beloved than E.T. Brimming with adventure, heart, and one of cinema’s greatest friendships, the movie remains among the most special of director Steven Spielberg’s career. Additionally, the picture was a massive box office and merchandising success, so it only seemed natural that Universal would pursue a sequel.
Of course, such a follow-up never came to pass, thanks to Spielberg himself, though the director is set to deliver another sci-fi film focused on aliens with Dislcosure Day in June. While most studio directors would love to have a franchise spun off of one of their films, Spielberg fought to keep it from happening, and, with the gift of retrospect, we couldn’t be happier that everyone’s favorite extraterrestrial never returned to the big screen.
Spielberg Fought to Keep an ‘E.T.’ Sequel From Happening
Henry Thomas as Elliott and E.T. watch the UFO land in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.Image via Universal Pictures
These days, if a film hits at the box office, it’s almost inevitable that there will be some sort of sequel or follow-up, whether the story calls for it or not. But back in the 1980s, turning a hit property into a sequel was not always a guarantee. For Steven Spielberg, though, he did consider revisiting E.T., albeit briefly. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a recent conversation with Drew Barrymore saw Spielberg reflect on the idea. “I flirted with it for a little bit—just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story—And the only thing I could think about was a book that was written by somebody that wrote the book for it called The Green Planet, which was all going to take place at E.T.’s home,” Spielberg explained. “We were all going to be able to go to E.T.’s home and see how E.T. lived. But it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film.”
However, Spielberg’s ultimate rejection of the idea wasn’t the end of the potential follow-up. At the time, Spielberg’s rejection alone wasn’t enough to call off any sort of sequel. “That was a real hard-fought victory because I didn’t have any rights,” the director stated. “Before E.T., I had some rights, but I didn’t have a lot of rights. 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. I didn’t have that. I got it after E.T. because of its success.”
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
Interestingly, Spielberg is rumored to use his rights to stop further E.T. desecration. Universal’s Orlando theme parks have long celebrated Spielberg’s work, with The E.T. Adventure being one of the resort’s longest-running attractions. However, per Theme Park Tourist, there is a rumor that Spielberg has threatened to end his relationship with Universal, should they close the attraction, though these rumors remain unconfirmed. Still, when one considers the lineage of such efforts, or the proposed work itself, it’s safe to say Spielberg’s rejection of the idea was the right move.
An ‘E.T.’ Sequel Could Have Ruined the Original Film’s Legacy
In the decades since E.T., Spielberg has overseen some of the greatest franchises in film history. However, follow-ups without the director’s involvement have often yielded poor results. One needn’t look any further than the Jaws series for an example. What started with a film that is still nothing short of remarkable ended with a picture that is often considered one of the worst movies ever made. A major part of what made the series fall from grace so fast was the lack of Spielberg’s involvement, a feat that does not bode well for an E.T. sequel.
Additionally, after reading the nine-page treatment for the film, it’s easy to see why Spielberg ended up turning against it. Ultimately, the first film is perfect in its stand-alone form. Its deep themes are only made more prominent with the knowledge that our lead characters will never see each other again. Trying to follow that up in such a brazen way would have not only cheapened the ending, it would have ruined the film’s legacy. While it’s hard to step away from a beloved character or fantastic story, it was truly the right move to let E.T. be the masterpiece it is.
