Steven Spielberg Removed Harrison Ford from One of His Masterpieces, Deeming His Presence Unnecessary
Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford crossed paths on a tender classic, and one of them vanished before opening night. When does star power become the one thing a movie can’t afford?
Harrison Ford did step onto the set of E.T., but audiences never saw him. Steven Spielberg filmed the star as a school principal who confronts Elliot after the frog incident, then cut the scene to keep the movie anchored in its child’s-eye intimacy. At the time, Ford was blazing through pop culture with Indiana Jones and Star Wars, a glare Spielberg worried would pull focus. Cast recollections, including Henry Thomas’s, help reconstruct the cameo that almost was and the choice that helped define the film’s tone.
Steven Spielberg’s unexpected decision: cutting Harrison Ford from E.T.
Steven Spielberg is no stranger to bold creative decisions. One choice made during the production of his beloved 1982 masterpiece, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, continues to intrigue fans to this day. Despite their successful collaboration on Indiana Jones, Spielberg ultimately removed Harrison Ford from the final cut. What led the iconic director to such a surprising decision?
Spielberg and Ford: a budding collaboration in the 1980s
By the early 1980s, Spielberg and Ford were carving their names into cinematic history. Ford had already achieved widespread fame as Han Solo in Star Wars and had begun his journey as Indiana Jones under Spielberg’s direction. Their professional partnership was cemented with the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Yet, when it came to E.T., a film focused on the innocence and wonder of childhood, Spielberg decided to chart a different course, even if that meant excluding one of cinema’s hottest stars of the time.
The scene that never made it to screen
Harrison Ford was cast in E.T. to play a brief but memorable role: a school principal reprimanding young Elliott (played by Henry Thomas). The scene tied into the frog dissection mishap, but Ford’s appearance was intentionally understated. His face never appeared on camera, with only his physical presence and voice lending authority to the role. Despite these subtleties, the scene was removed during editing. Why? Spielberg believed Ford’s immense star power might overshadow the story’s emotional intimacy and the focus on its young cast.
Balancing fame and storytelling
Spielberg’s decision reflects a deliberate choice to prioritize the film’s tone. E.T. centers on themes of childhood innocence, family, and connection. Introducing Ford, whose face and voice were synonymous with two major franchises, could have distracted viewers from the world Spielberg painstakingly created. Spielberg once reportedly joked that Ford’s presence could take the audience out of the moment, a testament to how carefully the visionary director considered every detail.
Adding to this is Ford’s meteoric rise during the early 1980s. With both Indiana Jones and Star Wars, his influence on pop culture was unparalleled. Yet Spielberg was steadfast: E.T. wasn’t about larger-than-life characters but about tender, small-scale human interactions.
Reflections from the cast and creative team
Henry Thomas, the actor who brought Elliott to life, has spoken fondly of that deleted interaction with Ford. Thomas worked briefly with the celebrated actor, whose role, though minimal, made an impression. However, it’s hard to argue with Spielberg’s instincts; E.T. went on to become a timeless classic precisely because of its heart and focus on its young heroes.
Looking back, Spielberg’s restraint highlights the power of careful storytelling choices. By letting the film’s tender themes and child protagonists shine, he ensured that E.T. became a deeply personal and universal story that continues to touch audiences decades later.
