Disclosure Day's Steven Spielberg 'volunteered' to direct James Bond movie
Disclosure Day director Steven Spielberg has revealed he's "always wanted" to direct a James Bond movie and even "volunteered" his services but he was turned down.
Steven Spielberg "volunteered" to direct a James Bond movie but he was turned down.
The Disclosure Day moviemaker has revealed he's "always wanted" to make a 007 film and even approached the franchise's original producer Albert R. 'Cubby' Broccoli to offer his services, but he was rejected.
During an episode of The Rest Is Entertainment, Spielberg explained: "I have regrets [that] they didn't approach me to do a Bond film ...
"I approached Cubby Broccoli after Jaws was a big hit. I’d always wanted to make a James Bond film from the day I saw Dr. No. So I called Cubby after Jaws and volunteered. I said: 'If you need a director, I would love to direct one.' And he said: 'No,' and he moved on."
Spielberg went on to reveal he spoke to Broccoli again after the producer got in touch and asked to sample the famed five-note musical sequence from the director's 1977 sci-fi movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind for 1979 Bond movie Moonraker - and Spielberg attempted to use the favour as a bargaining chip to bag his dream role of directing 007.
He said: "Cubby called me a few years after Close Encounters and said: 'We’d like to use the five notes in Moonraker'.
"I said: 'I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you permission to use the five notes if you let me direct a Bond film.' And he said: 'No.' But I gave him the five notes anyway."
Spielberg went on to admit he never found out why Bond bosses refused to let him behind the camera on any of their films, adding: "They consistently turned me down. He [Broccoli] never explained why he wasn’t letting me into the Bond family."
Broccoli died in 1996 aged 87 and the Bond films continued to be produced by his daughter Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson until 2025 when they stepped down and handed control of the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.
The studio is currently working on Bond 26 which is about to go into production at Pinewood Studios in the UK with Dune director Denis Villeneuve at the helm.
A new lead actor to replace Daniel Craig has yet to be announced but Amazon MGM Studios recently confirmed the audition process has kicked off, saying said in a statement: "The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."
