‘E.T.' star Dee Wallace reveals she ‘argued' with Steven Spielberg over toning down bedroom scene
'E.T.' nearly wasn't so family friendly.
Dee Wallace appeared on Steve Kmetko's 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast last week and recalled how she clashed with director Steven Spielberg over a bedroom scene involving her character, Mary, in the 1982 film.
'The only time Steven and I parted ways creatively was there's a whole B story in 'E.T.' about E.T. having a love affair with Mary, a love crush on Mary,' the 76-year-old actress explained.
12 Dee Wallace and Steven Spielberg attend the 40th anniversary screening of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival.
Getty Images for TCM
'And there's little bits of it left in there,' she continued. 'There was a scene where he came in to put Reese's Pieces down on my bedside table as I'm asleep. Well, Mr. Spielberg wanted the sheet a little lower than I was comfortable with.'
Wallace said that she 'argued my point that this was a family film.'
12 Dee Wallace on the 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast.
Still Here Hollywood Podcast w/ Steve Kmetko/YouTube
12 Dee Wallace and Steve Kmetko.
Still Here Hollywood Podcast w/ Steve Kmetko/YouTube
12 Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.'
©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
'I could understand the parents smoking pot in 'Poltergeist.' But this film was very pure to me. And it was about love,' Wallace shared, adding that producer Kathleen Kennedy and writer Melissa Mathison got involved and sided with Wallace over Spielberg, 78.
'So we compromised and pulled the sheet up almost to my shoulder blades, which I was okay with,' Wallace said.
12 Dee Wallace at the 20th anniversary of 'E.T.' in Los Angeles in 2002.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
12 Steven Spielberg filming a movie in Montville, New Jersey in Feb. 2025.
GC Images
'That's pretty high,' joked Kmetko, 72, to which Wallace replied, 'Not to a girl from Kansas who knew her grandmother was gonna be watching.'
'You can take the girl out of Kansas, you can't take Kansas out of the girl,' she added with a laugh.
'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' was Spielberg's seventh directorial feature film in his career.
12 Steven Spielberg at the 2023 Oscars.
John Locher/Invision/AP
The film, which follows a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth, also stars Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore.
On the podcast, Wallace remembered knowing 'E.T.' would be a hit the first time she watched it in theaters.
'I could tell just from the way the audience responded,' she said. 'That film reaches into your soul, into your heart. It surpasses some block that we have and wakes us up.'
12 Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.'
©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
12 Robert MacNaughton, Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote in 2002.
Courtesy Everett Collection
12 Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.'
Courtesy Everett Collection
Wallace also said that at the time she foresaw Barrymore, 50, would have a big career eventually.
'We knew from day one she was gonna be a producer and director,' she explained. 'I'm sitting in a high director's chair, first day on set, and she comes up to me and she goes, 'Dee, I'm going to sit in your lap now.' And I said, 'Okay, Drew, come on up.' I mean, she just knew what she wanted, that one.'
12 Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas on the set of 'E.T.' in 1982.
Courtesy Everett Collection
Earlier this year, Spielberg discussed the film with Barrymore at a TCM Classic Film Festival event and revealed he went through a 'real hard-fought' battle to stop a sequel from being made.
12 Steven Spielberg attends the AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony in April 2025.
WireImage
'I just did not want to make a sequel. I flirted with it for a little bit — just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story — and the only thing I could think about was a book that was written by somebody that wrote the book for it called 'The Green Planet,' which was all going to take place at E.T.'s home,' he explained, per THR.
'We were all going to be able to go to E.T.'s home and see how E.T. lived,' Spielberg added. 'But it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Henry Golding reveals why playing James Bond is ‘every actor's kind of nightmare'
The name is Golding… Henry Golding. And he has some strong opinions on playing the next Martini-sipping 007. 'I think that's every actor's kind of nightmare,' Golding, 38, told People on Wednesday about taking on the role of James Bond. 'But at the same time, [you're] also wanting to kind of add something new to a franchise.' Advertisement 11 Henry Golding at Netflix's 'The Old Guard 2' premiere. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / BACKGRID 'Why can't they bring out more agents or more OO's?' asked the 'Old Guard 2' star. 'I think that would be so much more fun, because there just isn't the restraints and the expectation.' Despite his views on the franchise, Golding confessed, 'Maybe I'm just a p—y. I don't know. But I think I would love it so much more if there wasn't that overhanging cultural pressure.' Advertisement 11 Henry Golding attends CinemaCon 2018. Getty Images James Bond was created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming and the film franchise launched in 1962 with Sean Connery as Bond in 'Dr. No.' Other Bonds include David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton. Pierce Brosnan brought the debonair 007 to life in four films from 1995 to 2002, while Daniel Craig took on the British Secret Service agent from 2006 to 2021. Advertisement 11 Sean Connery in the 1964 Bond film 'Goldfinger.' Everett Collection / Everett Col In 2022, the 'Queer' actor, 57, revealed why it was the right time for him to step away from the movies. 'Two things, one for myself and one for the franchise,' Craig told the Los Angeles Times. 'One, for the franchise, was that resets start again, which [the franchise] did with me. And I was like, 'Well, you need to reset again.' So let's kill my character off and go find another Bond and go find another story. Start at [age] 23, start at 25, start at 30.' Not only did the star leave the franchise, but the original Bond producers, Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson, relinquished creative control of the films to Amazon MGM Studios for a reported $1 billion in February. Advertisement 11 Sean Connery as James Bond in 'Never Say Never.' Everett Collection / Everett Collection Since the star went on his final adventure as Bond in 2021's 'No Time to Die,' rumors have continued to swirl over who would portray the hero next. On Wednesday, the studio announced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the upcoming film. 'I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory,' the French-Canadian filmmaker, 57, shared in a statement. 'I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.' 11 Sean Connery as James Bond with Bond girls Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera in 'Never Say Never Again.' Getty Images 11 Jane Seymour and Roger Moore in 'Live and Let Die.' Everett Collection (liveandletdie1973-fsct17) Spearheading the franchise are Amy Pascal and David Heyman. Then, on Thursday, English actor Matthew Goode revealed his cheeky run-in with the franchise. Advertisement 'I didn't audition. I went in and met Barbara [Broccoli],' Goode said while on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, 'but it was quite a funny one because — and she's gorgeous and just a lovely, lovely person — she was like, 'So what's your idea for Bond?'' 11 Pierce Brosnan in 'GoldenEye.' Getty Images 11 Pierce Brosnan and Denise Richards in 'The World is Not Enough.' ©MGM/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection The 'Dept. Q' star, 47, didn't hold back in sharing his vision. Advertisement 'I was like, 'My idea for Bond. We've gotta take it back to the books, you know? Really, we absolutely have to make this guy an alcoholic, a drug addict. He hates himself. He hates women. He hates a lot of people. He's in deep pain. He's brilliant at killing people.'' Goode reflected on his answer, sharing on the podcast: 'I think by the end of the interview, she was like, 'Mhmm. Next.' I wanted to make it really dark.' 11 Denise Richards and Pierce Brosnan in the 1999 James Bond film. ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection In May, former Bond girl Denise Richards, who starred in 1999's 'The World Is Not Enough' with Brosnan, 72, gave her thoughts on the next man to suit up. Advertisement 'I really don't even know,' the Bravo star, 54, told The Post about who should play the handsome spy. 'I don't even know who is in the mix. I know they will cast someone amazing.' Brosnan, meanwhile, had one condition, noting in March that it's a 'given' that Bond must be British. 11 Daniel Craig in 'No Time to Die.' Nicola Dove 11 Daniel Craig as James Bond. Nicola Dove Advertisement 'History has been passed on and I'm very proud to have been part of the history and the legacy of Bond,' the Irish actor added, 'and the movies that I made with Barbara and Michael.'
Engadget
8 hours ago
- Engadget
Runway now has its sights on the video game industry with its new generative AI platform
The AI startup Runway, which recently partnered with AMC Networks, is now trying to break into the gaming industry. The company has plans to launch its latest platform, called Game Worlds, next week, according to The Verge . The new tool lets Runway users create something akin to an interactive text-based game that can generate text and images from AI. Even though Game Worlds can only produce basic designs for now, the company's CEO, Cristóbal Valenzuela, is hoping this will be the first step towards more AI use in the gaming industry. Valenzuela told The Verge that "generated video games are coming later this year," adding that Runway is looking to partner with video game companies, which will be able to use the company's AI tools, while it gets access to video game datasets to train its AI on. However, the use of AI in video games has already drawn a lot of criticism from industry professionals, even leading to the SAG-AFTRA union striking against video game companies using its members' likenesses and voices to train AI. Runway has faced its own controversy for reportedly training its AI on YouTube videos and pirated movies despite being against the video platform's terms. Still, Runway is looking to replicate the similar success it's had with major TV and film studios. In the AMC deal, the AI company would help create promotional materials and help "accelerate pre-visualization during development." Before AMC, Runway secured a partnership with Lionsgate to provide its AI for the studio's "pre-production and post-production process." As for the gaming world, Runway wouldn't be the first to introduce generative AI since the industry has seen other examples already, like Ubisoft using a tool called Ghostwriter to create video game dialogue.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
‘80s star talks ‘Goonies' sequel, career, and AI threatening Hollywood ‘magic'
'The Goonies' star Corey Feldman is concerned that the rise of artificial intelligence could ruin the 'magic' of Hollywood filmmaking. In a new interview with Fox News Digital, the entertainer talked about his decades of being part of the film industry and what he thinks of it today compared to how it was when he was starring in beloved 80s classics like 'Goonies,' 'The Lost Boys' and 'The Burbs.' When asked if he believes modern Hollywood can still conjure up the same 'magic' that led to the creation of these iconic films, he said he wasn't so sure. 'Well, I share the opinion that there is a lot of the magic that's been lost because of A.I., because of CGI, because of, you know, these things kind of taking over from the good stories, the great characters that we draw, the great writing,' Feldman said. The actor, who recently marked 50 years in the entertainment industry, said how important it is for people in Hollywood not to let technology get in the way of elements that make good, meaningful art. 6 'The Goonies' star Corey Feldman spoke about his concerns on how the rise of artificial intelligence could ruin the 'magic' of Hollywood filmmaking. FOX News 'And I think that it's so important that we treasure those things, because we're coming into a time where A.I. is scheduled to take over all the creative ideas from people's minds right now,' he said. 'People rely on it for songwriting, they rely on it for music, they rely on it for special effects, they rely on it for story writing. I mean all sorts of things.' 'They'll eventually probably try to replace us actors with A.I. people,' he predicted. 'I don't think it will be long before all of that is tried.' However, the 'Stand By Me' star said he believes that an industry that's so integrated with A.I. technology will fail to resonate with audiences. 6 'They'll eventually probably try to replace us actors with A.I. people,' Feldman said. 'I don't think it will be long before all of that is tried.' Getty Images He added, 'But will it survive? Will it win? Will it have the same magic? No, it never can, because it's called the human experience and if we don't bring the human experience to the table, why would other humans relate with the project?' Feldman's decades in entertainment began with him starring in commercials as a small child. The actor, who is also focused on his music career – including launching a world tour later this year – said his musical talent is what jump-started his acting career. 'As a child, you know, I used to have to go on auditions, and you know, when you're three-and-a-half, four years old, you can't read, you can't read a script, you can't memorize, you know, it's impossible. So, the way my mom thought to get around that was to actually train me how to sing,' he said. 6 Feldman's entertainment career began with him starring in commercials as a small child, and now pursuing music. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 'So I'd go on a commercial audition, I'd go, and I'd sing to them, and they'd go, 'Oh, that kid's so cute because he can sing.' And then I'd get the part. And that led to my first TV appearance,' he continued. Feldman's music career has come full circle, with his new single, 'Characters,' released on June 22. He explained the psychedelic-sounding track is 'actually both a tribute to The Beatles and a celebration of my 50th year in entertainment.' He said, 'It talks about really the many characters that I've played through the years. Obviously I've played a lot of memorable characters that people hold dear and near in their hearts, and you know, I always want to acknowledge the fans in some way, and I thought, what better way than to give back to the fans by creating a song that represents those characters?' When asked what he thinks about Hollywood today compared to how it was when he started half a century ago, he said it depends on your perspective. 'Yeah, I think there's pros and cons. I mean, look, you can say 'the good old days.' And yes, they were, I mean let's face it, the eighties were easier, the eighties were simpler, you know? People played outside together and rode their bikes and went on adventures. And it was just a beautiful magical time. But, of course, that's because I was a child then.' The actor added, 'I think it's every generation that feels that way. I think that's just progress and I think that's the schedule of time. We all age, we all get older, but we also look back fondly at our earlier memories. I mean, let's face it, my life was a nightmare. I had a very abusive childhood. I had predators all around me. I had all that stuff I was dealing with, both female and male. So yeah, for me, it was a very difficult time. And, and personally speaking, today is a much better day.' 6 Jeff Cohen, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman and Jonathan Ke Quan in 'The Goonies.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection During the interview, Feldman also weighed in on news that 'The Goonies' would be getting a sequel with Steven Spielberg producing. Variety reported in February that Warner Bros. hired Potsy Ponciroli to write the script for the sequel. Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Holly Bario, and Chris Columbus – who wrote the original film's script – will produce for Amblin Entertainment. Feldman remarked, 'And the big question is, we don't know what the script is, when it will be done, when it will ready, who's included, who's involved. Nobody's gotten the script, nobody has gotten an offer, so that's all we know for now. This is the 40th anniversary, though, of that film, so it's pretty ironic that this year is both the 40th anniversary of 'Goonies' and the 50th anniversary of my career. Pretty wild.' 6 It was reported that 'The Goonies' would be getting a sequel. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 6 'It's pretty ironic that this year is both the 40th anniversary of 'Goonies' and the 50th anniversary of my career,' Feldman said. 'Pretty wild.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection When asked if he thinks he will be reprising his role as Clark 'Mouth' Devereaux in the sequel, he said, 'I think that's the way it's moving. I can't tell you.' Mentioning how the original cast are excited about the possibility, he said, 'We would all love to see it happen and we would love to be a part of it. But at the same time, we don't want to do it if it's not right.' Feldman noted they're pretty hopeful about the movie being a winner, especially with Spielberg on board. 'I can't imagine Steven Spielberg doing it wrong. As long as he's involved, I know it's going to be magical. But that said, we're reserving, you know, any other opinion until we see a script.' The actor shared some insight as to why the long-awaited sequel got the green light, saying he heard it might have been a response to the box office success of 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' which saw the return of its original stars Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder. Feldman said, 'Chris Columbus did say to me that he felt the reason why this was happening now, finally, after 40 years as opposed to any other time in history, was based really on the success of 'Beetlejuice' for Warner Brothers, because they had such a success with that chemistry, which of course was bringing the original cast back.'
