‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ Star Dee Wallace Says She ‘Argued’ With Steven Spielberg Over an Axed ‘Love Affair’ Between E.T. and Elliot’s Mother: ‘This Was a Family Film’

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Had Dee Wallace not confronted Steven Spielberg, there might have been more that E.T. wished to do beyond simply returning home.

During a recent interview on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, it was revealed by Wallace – who portrayed Elliot’s mother Mary in the iconic 1982 movie – that there had originally been plans for a subplot involving a romantic relationship between her character and the film’s extraterrestrial protagonist. This intriguing detail was ultimately cut from the final production.

She pointed out that ‘E.T.’ also has a secondary narrative about E.T. developing feelings for Mary, almost like a romantic affection. Some traces of this subplot can still be found within the film.

She added, “In one part, he entered to place some Reese’s Pieces on my nightstand while I was sleeping. However, Spielberg preferred the blanket to be pulled back a bit more than I found suitable.

As a dedicated cinephile, I shared my concerns about preserving the wholesome vibe of the movie directly with Mr. Spielberg himself, advocating for keeping the film’s family-friendly essence intact.

She asserted that ‘E.T.’ was indeed a family-oriented movie,” she stated further. In her opinion, the movie held a very innocent, pristine quality that deserved to be preserved in its representation.

In due course, Wallace sought assistance from “E.T.” scriptwriter Melissa Mathison and producer Kathleen Kennedy to devise a resolution for the problematic scene.

Ultimately, we found a middle ground and raised the blanket nearly to the base of my shoulder blades, which suited me just fine,” Wallace reminisced.

Following its debut in 1982, the movie “E.T.” garnered four prestigious Academy Awards, including Best Sound, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Editing.

Following his role in “E.T.”, Wallace continued his acting career with appearances in films like “Cujo”, “Critters”, “Popcorn”, “The Howling” and “The Twilight Zone.

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2025-05-04 23:48