Steven Spielberg wanted James Bond. James Bond did not want him.
The Oscar-winning director revealed during an appearance on ‘The Rest Is Entertainment’ podcast that he repeatedly tried to direct a 007 movie early in his career, only to be rejected by franchise producer Cubby Broccoli.
Spielberg said his first attempt came after ‘Jaws’ became a massive hit.
“I approached Cubby after ‘Jaws’ was a big hit,” Spielberg said. “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.’ And he said no.”
That was not the only time Spielberg tried.
Spielberg Tried To Trade ‘Close Encounters’ For Bond
A few years later, Broccoli contacted Spielberg after the release of ‘Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.’
This time, Broccoli wanted permission to use the movie’s famous five-note musical melody in ‘Moonraker.’ Spielberg saw an opening and tried to turn the request into a Bond directing job.
“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,’” Spielberg recalled.
Broccoli still refused. “And he said no. But I gave him the five notes anyway,” Spielberg said.
The director admitted he never got a real explanation. “So they consistently turned me down, at least, Broccoli did,” he said. “He never explained why he wasn’t letting me into the Bond family.”
The Rejection Led To Indiana Jones
The Bond rejection did not exactly hurt Spielberg’s career.
He said he told George Lucas the story in 1977 while they were in Hawaii ahead of the release of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope.’ Lucas then offered him something he believed was better than Bond.
“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 said.
That idea became ‘Indiana Jones.’
Lucas explained the premise, and Spielberg took the job. The result became one of the most famous adventure franchises in movie history. The failed Bond dream had quietly opened the door to another cinematic icon.
Spielberg Has A Different Answer Now
Spielberg is no longer asking for Bond.
After building a career that includes ‘Jaws,’ ‘E.T.,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Schindler’s List,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ and ‘Indiana Jones,’ he joked that the franchise missed its chance. “So if they ever asked me to make a Bond film now, my answer would be: ‘You can’t afford me,’” he said.
Bond was not the only major franchise Spielberg nearly joined.
He also once considered directing the first ‘Harry Potter’ movie, but turned it down so he could spend more time with his children. “There were several films I chose not to make,” Spielberg said in a 2023 interview. “I chose to turn down the first ‘Harry Potter’ to basically spend that next year and a half with my family, my young kids growing up.” He said he sacrificed a major franchise, but does not regret the decision.
Looking back, Spielberg may have missed Bond and walked away from ‘Harry Potter.’ Still, the Bond rejection helped lead him to Indiana Jones. That is the twist.
James Bond kept saying no. Hollywood history still found a way to make Spielberg’s spy-adventure dream even bigger.
