Henry Thomas explains why a sequel to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will likely never happen. Steven Spielberg’s classic E.T. sees then 9-year-old Thomas star in only his second film as Elliot, a boy who forms a powerful bond with an alien stranded on Earth. E.T. surpassed George Lucas’ original Star Wars and became the highest-grossing movie of all time in 1982 (before being usurped by Spielberg's own Jurassic Park in 1993).
Nearly 40 years after E.T.’s tearful goodbye, Thanksgiving 2019 saw the extraterrestrial leave home once again. The character returned in a “Home for the Holidays” commercial from Comcast Xfinity. The 4-minute advertisement depicts a technologically advanced present (benefiting from that first encounter) where a now-grown Elliot has a family, but still possesses an affinity for his alien friend and a good bike ride. When the ad aired, many thought it was a teaser for an E.T. sequel. Even though it wasn’t, some still wonder if that concept could ever be explored.
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the now 50-year-old Thomas was asked about successful sequels to films from yesteryear, like Top Gun: Maverick, and what they might mean for E.T. According to Thomas, it’s unlikely Spielberg himself will ever revisit E.T., with Comcast Xfinity’s ad being the closest audiences will get to see a reunion between E.T. and Elliot. Read the full quote below:
"There had been ideas kicked around over the years. There were some serious talks early on because the studio was really pushing for it, to follow up the success of the 1982 season...That's why the commercial, I think Spielberg okayed the commercial because that's as close to a sequel as he's willing to go, as he's willing to allow. The response for that Xfinity spot was so overwhelming and people thought it was a teaser for a sequel which created a huge, huge stir on the internet. I don’t know if it made it past the internet.”
Since E.T.’s release, many details have been revealed regarding its potential follow-up. For example, E.T.'s original ending set up a sequel, with a final scene panning up to a working communicator—which would’ve implied Elliot and E.T. are still in touch. However, the scene was ultimately cut because the goodbye between Elliott and E.T. proved a much more powerful way to end the film. Spielberg and Melissa Mathison wrote a treatment for an E.T. sequel, entitled E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears, which follows Elliott and his friends as they're abducted by aliens and saved by E.T. Ultimately, Spielberg abandoned this idea because he felt it would betray the original’s purity. However, the author of E.T.’s novelization, William Kotzwinkle, did write a sequel, E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet, set on the titular character’s home planet of Brodo Asogi.
Thomas' co-star Drew Barrymore has also said that a big-screen E.T. follow-up is never going to happen. While a sequel or reboot likely won't see the night's sky without Spielberg's approval, the film’s spirit lives on in nostalgia-fueled projects like Stranger Things, which has revitalized interest in ‘80s pop culture. Considering the amount of pressure that would come with making an E.T. sequel, and the chance of tarnishing the original's legacy, perhaps it's best if the titular alien stays home this time.
Source: ComicBook.com