E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The Deleted Love Story That Never Was
Dee Wallace, the beloved actress who played Mary in Steven Spielberg's iconic 1982 sci-fi film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, recently revealed an interesting and possibly disturbing alternative story for the classic family movie.
Was E.T. in Love With Mary?
During a conversation on the podcast, The Spiel, Wallace divulged that Spielberg's initial plan for E.T. involved a subplot about the titular character's romantic feelings towards Mary. Spielberg originally intended to show E.T. leaving Reese's Pieces on Mary's bedside table while she was sleeping with the sheets pulled low down. Wallace protested against this scenario, considering it out of place and inappropriate for a family film about love, as it presented an unusual interpretation of romance. Ultimately, they made the change to include a much less jarring scene.
Why Was The Deleted E.T. Scene Changed?
The reason why the scene was cut highlights E.T.'s theme of acceptance and love that's not defined by romantic notions. E.T.'s bond with Elliott was more a family and friends bond, so emphasizing a romantic subplot between E.T. and Mary could have diminished that core idea of friendship.
How Would This Have Changed E.T.'s Iconic Scenes?
Had E.T. focused on that E.T. crush, iconic scenes like Elliot and E.T. flying a bicycle under the moon could have felt a little uncomfortable or creepy to many viewers. We are very used to E.T. being seen as a gentle alien and that love subplot could have altered its perception to something a bit less friendly and warm.
What Other Themes are In E.T. Besides Romance?
While the possibility of the love subplot might sound surprising for E.T., the movie emphasizes more wholesome themes, like:
- The importance of family
- Acceptance of different cultures (especially those beyond humans).
- The impact of loneliness.
Why Was The Love Scene Dropped?
Wallace states that she felt uncomfortable with this original scene's potential impact. She believed the film should stick to themes that align with its family film roots. This led her, Steven Spielberg, Kathy Kennedy, and Melissa Matheson (E.T.'s writer) to agree to rewrite this original scene to portray a sweeter and less disturbing image of the extra-terrestrial character.
Why Was The Original Story Plan For E.T.'s Romance Dropped?
As a beloved family film, it is quite fortunate for fans of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial that Wallace was willing to stand her ground and argue that a romantic subplot would undermine the original family film themes of Spielberg's movie. The current ending and flying bicycle scene feel endearing and full of joy - without that odd love angle that could have changed E.T.'s reputation in pop culture.
