Steven Spielberg is the greatest filmmaker of this generation who has directed numerous movies Jaws, Schindler’s List, Minority Report and so many more. Hence, he has a lot of influence in the industry. Spielberg has contributed to some of the most magical and jaw-dropping scenes in the history of filmmaking that have left the viewers of the film in his awe, making them a fan of his vision. The Hook director has not only directed smash-hit films but also inspired and urged actors to work in films that turned out to be a blockbuster.
Steven Spielberg does not boast himself to be the best, but he has results that will put other filmmakers to shame with 22 Oscar nominations and several records at the box office. These days people would have blind faith in the director but back in the 70s, he did not have this image. But Ilya Salkind had seen his potential and recommended him to direct the Superman films from the late 70s, which he later rejected to do.
Steven Spielberg Was Close To Directing Superman
During an exclusive interview, Ilya Salkind explained how they were looking for a film to make and they hired the writer of The Godfather Mario Puzo so that he can write the screenplay of Superman. But the writer scribed a 500-plus page script, which could not be done in a single film. He instigated the fact that his script became the very foundation of Superman I and Superman II.
“When I said let’s make a film, let’s make a serious film. I never said let’s make a camp film. We had absolutely decided to make two films because [Puzo’s] story was a saga.”
Salkind continued how a plethora of directors were interested in making the film with them but none of them fit their criteria, despite mentioning some of the biggest names back then.
“Everybody or I would say a lot of them [directors at the time] were very interested. Peter Yates, Sam Peckinpah…. My God, we met a lot of guys, very interesting people. We went to [William] Friedkin, we went to [Francis Ford] Coppola, we went to everyone…. Yates really wanted to do it.”
He continued that he had heard about Steven Spielberg who was relatively new in the film industry, and his agent kept calling him.
“Spielberg was really in the beginning. He absolutely wanted to make the film.”
The film producer continued that Spielberg was working on Jaws during that time and was totally unknown in the industry. But his representative kept calling him repeatedly in Paris.
“‘We have this kid who wants to direct ‘Superman’, he loves Superman, that’s his kind of stuff and he wants to do it.’ Of course I immediately checked what he had done and went to see his films and immediately said ‘OK, this kid’s got it – this guy’s got talent.’ And I went to my father and I said ‘Look this is the guy’.”
While Ilya Salkind was convinced that Steven Spielberg is the one they were looking for in their film. However, his father, Alexander Salkind had other thoughts because he had heard how the young director was over-budget for Jaws.
Steven Spielberg Rejects Superman After Jaw’s Success
In the same interview, The Three Musketeers producer was convinced that Jaws will be a hit regardless. Pierre Spengler also supported the young Jurassic Park director. Finally, Alexander Isak was convinced concluding “‘let’s wait until the big fish opens.'”
Needless to say, Jaws was a massive hit at the box office earning $482.9 million with additional sales of $19 million in DVD sales. Finally, when Alexander Salkind was convinced of Spielberg’s talent but his representatives stated that the window of opportunity was closed.
“I called [Spielberg’s] agent and the agent said… [he wanted] to do Superman singing and dancing, which was really a very polite way of saying [no]. And I understood it immediately.”
Ultimately the Salkinds managed to find their ideal director in Richard Donner. But, the question remains what would have happened if Spielberg had directed the 1978 and 1980 films?
Source: Superman Homepage
