Steven Spielberg Once Asked To Direct A James Bond Film And Was TURNED DOWN!

In the 1980’s Steven Spielberg became one of America’s iconic directors, turning out 6 classic movies in 10 years – earning him 3 Oscar nominations for best director and 2 for best picture. The hits were RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, ET: EXTRATERRESTRIAL, INDIANA JONES AND THE THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, THE COLOR PURPLE, and EMPIRE OF THE SUN.

Well, according to the Oscar winning director during an press junket for LINCOLN he was asked if he would like to ever work on a Bond film, the director revealed  that he approached Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli about directing a James Bond film in the early 80’s. After Broccoli rejected the SCHINDLER’S LIST director, who was just coming off of critical and box office hits JAWS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD KIND, Spielberg decided he would not ask for the opportunity again.

Interestingly enough , the rejection is what led him to make the  INDIANA JONES, series which turned both Spielberg and Harrison Ford into  full fledged stars (both had some help from George Lucas who created and worked closely on both series). Spielberg also admitted that he has seen the current Bond hit SKYFALL once already and is planning on seeing it again.

You can’t help but wonder how different both Bond and Spielberg’s evolution would be if Albert Broccoli had allowed him to direct a Bond film. Would we even have Indiana Jones?  We may never know. That said – everything seems to be working out for everyone involved. Skyfall is making major bank, and Spielberg is a strong contender for an Oscar nomination for LINCOLN – which would be his second in 2 years after last years WAR HORSE.