While talking about Tom Hanks’ career in cinema, one cannot miss mentioning Penny Marshall’s iconic comedy Big. Following the story of a 12-year-old boy Josh who magically wakes up one morning as a full-grown adult, the movie navigated adult life with a child-like innocence. Moreover, it also explored a unique romance between Elizabeth Perkins’ character and Tom Hanks’ Josh.
Although Marshall skillfully addressed the complexity of Josh and Susan’s relationship and Josh’s struggle to adapt to adulthood, it is important to note that Steven Spielberg was initially considered to direct the film.
Then why did Steven Spielberg turn down Big?
Originally, Steven Spielberg was considered to direct the $151 million-grossing hit Big with Harrison Ford instead of Tom Hanks. While many believe that Spielberg’s decision to pass the movie stemmed from scheduling conflicts with his WWII drama Empire of the Sun, there was a personal reason why he turned down the project.
Interestingly, the movie’s script was co-written by the filmmaker’s sister Anne Spielberg. And since Steven Spielberg did not want to take all the credit he decided to let the project go. He revealed,
“I was offered ‘Big’ and I turned it down because my sister Anne had written it. (Producer) Jim Brooks and I had many meetings about this and he was very persuasive about my doing it. I said to Anne, ‘Here’s why I’m not doing it. I’m not doing it because you’ll get no credit for this great script you wrote. It will all go to me.”
And fortunately, Anne Spielberg received much-deserved recognition for her collaboration with Gary Ross on the script. This is evident from the fact that her work in the movie earned her an Oscar nomination, affirming her influence in shaping the movie.
Spielberg siblings unveil heartfelt bonds in The Fabelmans
The Spielberg family including Steven Spielberg, alongside his sisters Anne, Sue, and Nancy enjoyed their reunion at the AFI Fest premiere of The Fabelmans. The movie, which explored Steven Spielberg’s journey in filmmaking highlighted the family’s intricate dynamic, experiences, and emotions.
During their conversation with the LA Times, the Spielberg sisters revealed how their brother has finally allowed himself to be vulnerable. Moreover, her sister Anne shared,
“Steve hid his vulnerability for such a long time. There was never a time when he didn’t have a camera in front of him when he walked into a room. I always knew you were afraid of something and that the camera was a shield.”
Furthermore, the sisters added, that Steven Spielberg finally found a way to be vulnerable, removing his ever-present shield in front of him. And as a result, this helped all of them to come much closer. Released in November 2022, The Fablemans registered a box-office collection of over $46 million. The movie is currently available to stream on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Source: Los Angeles Times
