Steven Spielberg Says James Bond Movies ‘Constantly Turned Me Down’ and ‘If They Asked Me Now’ to Direct the Answer Would Be: ‘You Can’t Afford Me’
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- Steven Spielberg approached producer Cubby Broccoli after the success of "Jaws" and offered to direct a James Bond film, but Broccoli declined.
- Steven Spielberg later offered to let Broccoli use the iconic five-note motif from "Close Encounters of a Third Kind" in "Moonraker" if he could direct a Bond film; Broccoli again said no, yet Spielberg still granted the motif.
- Steven Spielberg recounted that George Lucas, while in Hawaii in 1977, suggested the Indiana Jones premise, which led Spielberg to direct that franchise instead of a Bond film.
- Steven Spielberg said that if asked now to direct a Bond film, his answer would be "You can't afford me."
- Steven Spielberg also turned down the first "Harry Potter" film to spend time with his young children, prioritizing family over a franchise opportunity.
- Steven Spielberg shared these stories during his "Disclosure Day" press tour on "The Rest Is Entertainment" podcast, and the "Disclosure Day" film opens in theaters June 12.
Why it matters: The Bond franchise missed the chance to work with Spielberg, whose later hits like 'Close Encounters' and 'Indiana Jones' reshaped cinema, while Spielberg’s refusal to helm other blockbusters shows how personal priorities and cost constraints shape Hollywood talent decisions in the industry.
