Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg shared that he had aspirations to direct a James Bond movie but was declined by the franchise producer. Spielberg expressed his regrets at not being approached to direct a Bond film, despite his interest in the franchise dating back to his viewing of Dr. No. He revealed that he reached out to producer Albert Romolo Broccoli, known as “Cubby,” after the success of Jaws, offering his directorial services, but was turned down.
Spielberg recounted his interactions with Broccoli, mentioning a second encounter after the release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Broccoli expressed interest in using a musical sequence from Spielberg’s film in Moonraker, which Spielberg saw as an opportunity to negotiate directing a Bond film. Despite offering the musical piece, he was once again rejected from joining the Bond family.
The director also shared how his discussion with George Lucas about the Bond franchise led to his involvement in the Indiana Jones series. Spielberg mentioned that Lucas presented him with the Indiana Jones project, originally named Indiana Smith, as an alternative to directing a Bond film. Reflecting on his past experiences, Spielberg expressed that he never felt envious of Lucas or Francis Ford Coppola in the 1970s, emphasizing their close relationships and admiration for each other’s work.
