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'Now they can’t afford me’: Steven Spielberg was turned down to direct Bond – twice
Film-maker says he approached producer ‘Cubby’ Broccoli after Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind were hits, but was knocked back both times
TL;DR
- Steven Spielberg was rejected twice by James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli.
- The first rejection occurred after Spielberg's success with "Jaws" when he volunteered to direct a Bond film.
- The second rejection happened after "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," when Spielberg offered the film's musical theme for "Moonraker" in exchange for directing a Bond film.
- Spielberg eventually directed "Raiders of the Lost Ark" after George Lucas offered him the role when he shared his Bond rejection story.
- Spielberg now claims that Bond producers could no longer afford him.