Steven Spielberg is a renowned filmmaker who has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Known for his unparalleled storytelling ability and visionary direction, Spielberg has created some of the most iconic and beloved films of all time. From heartwarming adventures to gripping dramas, his movies have captivated audiences around the globe. Among his notable works is the Indiana Jones franchise, which has been capable of entertaining audiences for generations.
The Schindler’s List director brought his visionary direction and storytelling prowess to the franchise, solidifying his status as a maestro of the silver screen. However, when it came to developing the fourth installment, Steven Spielberg and the franchise’s creator George Lucas found themselves at odds, leading to a clash that led to the poor delivery of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Steven Spielberg’s On Working With George Lucas
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are well-known as the creative minds behind the Indiana Jones franchise. However the two filmmakers had their visions for films, but this difference was increased pretty problematically during the shooting of Indiana Jones 4. Spielberg had to shoot the movie according to Lucas’ vision, even if he had reservations about certain aspects.
“I didn’t want these things to be either aliens or inter-dimensional beings. But I am loyal to my best friend. When he writes a story he believes in – even if I don’t believe in it – I’m going to shoot the movie the way George envisaged it. I’ll add my own touches, I’ll bring my own cast in, and I’ll shoot the way I want to shoot it, but I will always defer to George as the storyteller of the Indy series. I will never fight him on that.”
The Saving Private Ryan director even sarcastically marked that Lucas is responsible for breaking down the stories in the franchise all on his own. This practice has been done in the past and will continue to take place with the development of the fifth installment by the founder of Lucasfilm
“You have to ask George Lucas. George is in charge of breaking the stories. He’s done it on all four movies. Whether I like the stories or not, George has broken all the stories. He is working on Indy V. We haven’t gone to the screenplay yet, but he’s working on the story. I’ll leave it to George to come up with a good story.”
Frank Darabont Believes That George Lucas Is Crazy
Screenwriter Frank Darabont had collaborated with Spielberg on the script for what would become 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. After dedicated effort and excitement, Darabont found his script discarded due to George Lucas’ disapproval. The Walking Dead director’s frustration and disappointment were evident when he expressed his viewpoints on the Star Wars director. Darabont even went ahead and called George Lucas stubborn and crazy.
“It showed me how badly things can go. I spent a year of very determined effort on something I was very excited about, working very closely with Steven Spielberg and coming up with a result that I and he felt was terrific. He wanted to direct it as his next movie, and then suddenly the whole thing goes down in flames because George Lucas doesn’t like the script. I told him he was crazy. I said, ‘You have a fantastic script. I think you’re insane, George.’ You can say things like that to George, and he doesn’t even blink. He’s one of the most stubborn men I know.”
The clash between Steven Spielberg and George Lucas during the development of Indiana Jones 4 left a lasting impact on the film and the franchise as a whole. As this installment was not received as well as its predecessors. It also seems like the troubles during the shooting of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull increased to such an extent that it led to the exit of Spielberg from the fifth installment of the franchise.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is available for streaming on Disney+.
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