One might feel that having a decorated career and an impressive resume in the entertainment industry is a free pass to every project. But, unfortunately, Steven Spielberg will beg to differ, as the acclaimed filmmaker got rejected twice from the same project. You see, not many people have turned down Spielberg, but the one that did apparently rejected him twice.
Following his 1975 film Jaws, Steven Spielberg became the top of Tinseltown with his $470M movie. That’s when, the acclaimed filmmaker approached James Bond producer Albert Broccoli, with his glittering career and exclusive service to direct a 007 movie. However, Spielberg was refused by the producer, which led the director to hatch a revenge plan against him.
Albert Broccoli Rejected Steven Spielberg’s Directorial Services
It was highly unlikely for Steven Spielberg to get rejected after delivering critically acclaimed movies and becoming the talk of Tinseltown. Having several big-budget movies under his belt, Spielberg got habituated with praises and appreciation for his service as a director. And evidently, it was hard to get legends like him during the 1970s, when he dropped the box office bomb, Jaws.
Helming his glittering career after the success of his 1975 film Jaws, which made a staggering $470m at the US box office, Steven Spielberg thus approached James Bond producer Albert Broccoli. Harboring a desire to direct a 007 movie, Spielberg approached the producer with his directorial services. However, to everyone’s surprise, the acclaimed filmmaker was rejected by Broccoli.
“He didn’t think I was right for the part,” Steven Spielberg revealed. However, despite getting rejected once, the director didn’t lose hope in the franchise. Further, Spielberg tried his luck, once again, after Close Encounters of the Third Kind became a big hit. “Then after Close Encounters [of the Third Kind] came out and was a big hit, once again, I tried to get on a Bond film,” Spielberg admitted.
However, the director was rejected both times despite his glittering career and hands-on experience.
Steven Spielberg Devised His Own Iconic Character As Revenge
After facing humiliating rejection, twice, from the James Bond producer Albert Broccoli, Steven Spielberg revealed devising his own iconic character with his longtime pal, George Lucas. According to Lucas, they believed in making their character like “James Bond but better”.
Thereafter, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas came up with their Indiana Jones movies. Introducing the world to their handsome professor, who explores mystic ruins during his spare time, Spielberg delivered Indiana Jones as his better-than-Bond character. However, the director didn’t stop at just this, he even starred the James Bond actor Sean Connery in his $474M movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Following Sean Connery‘s appearance as the British secret agent James Bond, from 1962 to 1983, Steven Spielberg signed him for his 1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Trying to exact his revenge on Albert Broccoli, the acclaimed filmmaker went to hell and back to devise his plan, alongside George Lucas.
The classic James Bond films are streaming on Amazon Prime.
Watch Indiana Jones films on Disney+.
Source: The Independent
