Summary
- It is the James Bond film he was never allowed to make.
- He went on to collaborate with George Lucas and helped create the Indiana Jones franchise, which became one of the most iconic adventure series in cinema history and gave him a creative space that arguably matched or even exceeded what a Bond film might have offered.
- What would a Spielberg-directed James Bond film have looked like, and why was he the one director who never got the call?
There are career footnotes, and then there are the kinds of stories that even decades of global success cannot fully erase. For Steven Spielberg, the highest-grossing director in cinematic history and the man behind Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and the Indiana Jones franchise, one lingering “what if” still stands out. It is the James Bond film he was never allowed to make.
Speaking on the June 10 episode of The Rest Is Entertainment, the 79-year-old filmmaker revealed that he was rejected multiple times after personally approaching longtime Bond producer Albert Romolo Broccoli with an offer to direct a film in the iconic spy franchise. The admission, shared in response to a fan question, offered a rare look into one of Hollywood’s most tightly controlled creative spaces and the fact that even Spielberg was once turned away.
The story began at the height of his early success. After Jaws became a global phenomenon, Spielberg reached out to Broccoli with what he believed was a straightforward offer. “I approached Cubby Broccoli after Jaws was a big hit,” he 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,’ and he moved on.”
There was no negotiation and no further discussion. Just a direct refusal.
Spielberg tried again years later after the success of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, hoping his growing reputation might change the outcome. It did not. Once again, he was turned down, and again without explanation.
The story takes a memorable turn when Broccoli later contacted him for permission to use the famous five-note sequence from Close Encounters in Moonraker. Spielberg saw an opportunity and responded, “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you permission to use the five notes if you let me direct a Bond film.” The answer remained the same. Broccoli said no, but Spielberg still allowed the use of the notes.
Broccoli never explained why he was not interested in bringing Spielberg into the Bond franchise. That silence has remained part of the story ever since.
After these rejections, Spielberg’s path eventually shifted in another direction. He went on to collaborate with George Lucas and helped create the Indiana Jones franchise, which became one of the most iconic adventure series in cinema history and gave him a creative space that arguably matched or even exceeded what a Bond film might have offered.
Even so, the regret has not completely disappeared. “I have regrets that they didn’t approach me to do a Bond film,” he said. When asked if he would still take the opportunity today, he replied with characteristic wit, “If they ever asked me to make a Bond film now, my answer would be: ‘You can’t afford me.’”
Spielberg’s most recent film is Disclosure Day, set to release on June 12. Even at 79, he remains one of the most influential filmmakers in the world. The Bond franchise continues to move forward without him, but the question remains an enduring one. What would a Spielberg-directed James Bond film have looked like, and why was he the one director who never got the call?
