There ’s a difference between talking to a legendabout a new projectand talking to them about the projectthat made them a legend . Actor Henry Thomashas been around forever . In recent yr , in fact , he ’s become a staple of the horror musical style working with Netflix on shows likeThe Haunting of Hill Houseand The Midnight Club . And if we were to talk to him about those display , sure , you could sneak in a motion about the motion-picture show that made him a virtuoso : E.T. the Extra - tellurian , but it could n’t be the nidus of the whole interview .
So when I got an email ask to talk to Thomas about E.T. on the social occasion of the film ’s 40th day of remembrance , and in livelihood of a novel Blu - ray of light , I jumped at the chance . E.T. is not only one of the best , most revered sci - fi filmsof all - time , it may be one of the best film of a multiplication , period . The possibility for conversation are endless … but then you realize you only have seven minutes .
What follows is my conversation with Thomas about E.T. in which I judge to search my curiosities about the legacy of the film and , just because it ’s tradition , expect him aboutanother task from the timethat I nurse near and pricey to my heart .
io9 spoke to Henry Thomas about 40 years of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.Image: Universal
Germain Lussier , io9 : plainly , E.T. was a huge hit right out of the box . But I was wonder , was there a detail where you realized there was something bigger going on than just a hit motion-picture show ?
Henry Thomas : Well , after it was in theaters for a couple of calendar week , it had been turn one at the box office for a while . And it became a sense datum . They were report about the [ theater ] line around the [ pulley-block ] on the newsworthiness and local news and around the country . And then it became a worldwide hitting . So it was pretty evident ahead of time on that it was pass to be around for a while , but I did n’t ever think 40 yr later I would be talking about this photographic film .
io9 : Yeah . It ’s in reality funny you mentioned the early box office . One of my favorite bits of trivia about E.T. is that two weeks after it open up , two other sci - fi motion picture spread out on the same day , and then bombed in part because of E.T. Those motion picture were Blade Runner and The Thing , which have since gone on to become classic . Were you cognisant of those picture being liberate at the clock time and what do you think about that sort of unearthly Hollywood crossroad ?
Thomas has found a new niche working with Mike Flanagan.Image: Netflix
Thomas : I was very aware of Blade Runner because Harrison Ford , of course of study , was on the set of E.T. for for quite a bit , because he was [ writer ] Melissa Mathison ’s partner . But yeah , I only really learned about The matter in recent years . I guess the studio apartment [ Universal , which released E.T. and The Thing ] was trying to evade its bet a small moment because the idea of a large-hearted foreign movie was n’t really jiving with the heart of the times . Because all of the magnanimous successful sci - fi thing , they had these malefic stranger like Alien , but then they gave The Thing another release a couple of eld later to kind of get it back on the microwave radar . But it ’s a great film , The Thing .
io9 : I ’d say all three are pretty bang-up .
Thomas : Yeah .
E.T. phone home.Image: Universal
io9 : But can you savor E.T. like everyone else does ? Can you come off yourself from the picture show , check it with your mob and find that association ? Or are you still too closelipped to it ?
Thomas : No , I can never watch anything that I ’m in . I ca n’t separate myself .
io9 : Oh okay . Now , E.T. is one of the rare original films that we have n’t had a continuation of in the last 40 days . But looking back , I read online that apparently there was treatment for a sequelwritten by Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison call E.T. II : Nocturnal Fears that had evil stranger in it . Is that real ? Were you cognizant of that or was ever pitched to you ?
Image: Universal
Thomas : No . I do n’t get it on . [ Laughs ]
io9 : So was there ever a point you thought a sequel might encounter ?
Thomas : In the early ‘ 80s I remember it was in the realm of possibilities . Because the picture was such a achiever , I cogitate there was a big push from the studio and the financial side of things to follow it up with another hit . But Steven was always reticent to bear on it again , and I think it ’s his classic film . It ’s a feathering in his capital , and I do n’t think he wants to mess with that at all .
io9 : perfectly . Though , instead , we did get thatextended commercial a few years ago which is so magical . Were you unbelieving about that originally ? I be intimate you ’re happy with how it change state out , but secernate me a petty bit about your form of emotions doing that and if you were frightened about it .
Thomas : Well , I ’ve been approached passably unrelentingly over the old age for commercial spot having to do with E.T. , but it ’s really a question of whether or not Steven Spielberg okay of any of these ideas because if he does n’t then they do n’t go through . This was one that had his impression of favorable reception . So I think I was in honest hands to do it . And I think it turned out smashing . And I reckon it ’s as close to a sequel as we ’re going to get . I think it gave audiences what they were expect for and when they were see for a continuation . It also spawned this whole online fervor of , “ Oh , is this just a teaser for a newfangled sequel ? ” Which might have been an intention of his as well , to gauge the the receipt of a sequel should he settle to do one . But . I do n’t know anything . I ’m just an thespian .
io9 : Oh , I understand . As you may see behind me [ we were blab out on telecasting confabulation ] , I ’m a movie airscrew collector . Do you have or did you keep anything from the film ? Or is it represented at all in your home ?
Thomas : No , I did n’t . I have some photographs and you bonk , everything up here [ points at brain ] , and that ’s principally what I pull in .
io9 : just enough . Now this probably has be be my last question but as much as I love E.T. I ’m also a big fan of Cloak and Dagger . I grow up with that movieand theyjust eject that awesome Blu - ray setwhich you were involved in .
Thomas : Yeah , is n’t that great ?
io9 : Oh , it ’s so cool . That ’s a really dark film when you rewatch it , so I was inquire what sort of computer memory do you have from working on that one ?
Thomas : Well , that was a fantastic experience for me . And , you know , it ’s actually my first and only asterisk role in a studio picture was Cloak and Dagger .
io9 : Oh wow .
Thomas : Yeah . So it was filmed in my hometown of San Antonio and we had a cracking cast and it was a wonderful summertime .
io9 : That ’s great . Well , that ’s a great movie . And obviously E.T. is a great movie . give thanks you so much for your time and I also have to say , I ’m happy to see you out there ferment on all that Mike Flanagan stuff and nonsense . It ’s really exceptional .
Thomas : Oh , thanks very much . Yeah . Thanks for watching .
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial isnow availablein a new 40th anniversary release uncommitted in most formatting , forcible and digital .
Want more io9 news program ? Check out when to expect the latestMarvelandStar Warsreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and television , and everything you demand to know aboutHouse of the DragonandLord of the Rings : The Rings of Power .
AlienBlade RunnerFantasyFilmsNetflixSteven Spielberg
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