The sci-fi film ET – The Extra-Terrestrial has thrilled several generations since its release in 1982. Whether it’s flying bicycles, glowing fingers or the alien who wishes to “phone home” – Steven Spielberg has created an absolute classic of cinema. But would it have remained that way if the dark sequel had come to fruition?
Steven Spielberg came up with a crazy sci-fi sequel to ET
Aside from theme park attractions and a book sequel *, ET was never continued as a film. Plans for it were briefly made in 1982, however. When the first film became a hit, Spielberg and his screenwriter Melissa Mathison sat down a week after the film’s release, according to NBC, to draft a nine-page treatment for Part 2, a potential outline of a new story without writing a complete script. It was titled ET II: Nocturnal Fears – translated ET 2: Night Fears.
In this proposed sequel, according to Collider, the young heroes Elliott (Henry Thomas), Michael (Robert MacNaughton) and Gertie (Drew Barrymore) try to keep in touch with their extraterrestrial friend during the summer holidays via roof antenna. However, a Group of evil, flesh-eating aliens nearby, looking for a stranded comrade.
She kidnap and interrogate the children and it turns out that the aliens led by the nefarious Korel are a mutation of ET’s alien species that are at war with ET’s homeland. Ultimately, ET returns to Earth, is able to save his human acquaintances, banish the enemies to the other side of the galaxy and finally says goodbye again in his spaceship.
After the lovable ET, in which the (adult) humans became the antagonists, Nocturnal Fears with evil alien creatures would have been a clearly dark note However, after first writing down this idea, Spielberg filed away the plans for the sequel and never brought them up again.
Spielberg explains why it’s a good thing ET never came to fruition
It was only in 2012 that Steven Spielberg spoke to IGN about the dangers of sequels like ET 2:
Sequels can be dangerous because they compromise your truth as an artist. I think a sequel to ET would have achieved nothing except to rob the original of its innocence. People only remember the latest episode while the opening is tarnished.
Ironically, it was Spielberg who suggested to James Cameron in the 1980s that the dreaded Xenomorph be made into a “good” alien for the space horror sequel Aliens. But this idea, like evil aliens in ET 2, never came to fruition.
ET – The Extra-Terrestrial is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime *.
There are even more aliens in the podcast: The 10 best series launches in September on Netflix and Co.
Do you need more fresh streaming tips? We present the most exciting series in September that are launching on Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and Co. in the monthly overview:
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The 10 series highlights in September include season 2 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon as well as the series battle between Marvel and DC with Agatha All Along and The Penguin. Netflix also descends into dark true crime depths with Monster and a sci-fi series with aliens returns.
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