"I'm too expensive for you": Steven Spielberg explains why he won't direct a new James Bond film

The director clearly remembers past rejections.

Steven Spielberg participated in The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, during which he shared the story of how he tried several times to direct a James Bond film.

According to the director, he was constantly rejected. Making a film about Agent 007 had been a long-standing dream of his — ever since he saw "Dr. No." After "Jaws," he contacted Albert Broccoli and offered his candidacy:

I told him: "If you need a director, I'd be happy to do the film." And he told me "No."

Several years later, Broccoli himself contacted Spielberg, but not with an offer to make a Bond film. He wanted to use the five-note musical theme from Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in his new project "Moonraker":

I then said: "Let's make a deal: I'll let you use those five notes if you let me make a Bond film." And he refused again. But I still gave him permission. They kept refusing me — at least, Broccoli did. He never explained why he didn't want to accept me into the "Bond family."

Spielberg then shared the story of the rejections with George Lucas, who told him: "I have something better than Bond — Indiana Smith." That's how the director got a new job and the Indiana Jones film series was born.

Now Spielberg has an extensive track record of iconic films and various awards, so he stated: