Steven Spielberg approached James Bond franchise producer Cubby Broccoli about directing a Bond film not once, but twice. Both times, Broccoli said no.
According to Variety, Spielberg revealed the story on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast as part of his press tour for his new film Disclosure Day, which opens in theaters June 12. The first approach came immediately after Jaws became a blockbuster in 1975.
"I approached Cubby after 'Jaws' was a big hit," Spielberg said. "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."
Broccoli reached out to Spielberg a few years later, after Close Encounters of the Third Kind, wanting to use the film's famous five-note musical theme in a scene in Moonraker. Spielberg tried to use that as leverage.
"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 said. "So they consistently turned me down – at least, Broccoli did. He never explained why he wasn't letting me into the Bond family."
The repeated rejections led directly to one of the most successful franchises in film history, though not a Bond film. Spielberg recounted telling the story to George Lucas in Hawaii in 1977, just before the release of Star Wars: A New Hope.
"When I told that story to George Lucas in 1977, when we were in Hawaii together getting ready for the release of 'Star Wars: A New Hope,' he said, 'I have something better than Bond. It's called Indiana Smith,' which is what it was called at the time," Spielberg said. "He told me the premise of the Indiana Jones series, and that's how I got that job. So if they ever asked me to make a Bond film now, my answer would be: 'You can't afford me.'"
Bond was not the only major franchise Spielberg passed on or missed out on. He also turned down the first Harry Potter film. He explained that decision in a 2023 interview.
"I chose to turn down the first 'Harry Potter' to basically spend that next year and a half with my family, my young kids growing up. So I'd sacrificed a great franchise, which today looking back I'm very happy to have done, to be with my family," Spielberg said.
Disclosure Day opens June 12.
