Why Did Steven Spielberg Drop Out of Directing ‘Interstellar’?

Once upon a spacetime Steven Spielberg was attached to direct Interstellar.

Christopher Nolan ultimately directed the acclaimed 2014 sci-fi film, but Steven Spielberg was involved in the project early on. Producer Lynda Obst and scientist Kip Thorne initially brought Spielberg on board, and he worked on the movie for about a year before deciding to leave.

Steven Spielberg shared with Empire magazine, as reported by GamesRadar+, that he spent a year working on Interstellar and became deeply interested in the science behind it. He spent considerable time at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, consulting with scientists and aerospace engineers.

The famous director believes the science fiction film was always better suited to Christopher Nolan, and his brother, Jonathan, who co-wrote the screenplay, initially suggested him for the project.

I initially brought on Chris Nolan’s brother, Jonathan, to write the first two drafts of the script, but it just didn’t quite work out. Jonathan even told me that if I decided to abandon the project, he knew exactly who would pick it up – his brother, Chris, was already asking about it.

Spielberg stands by his decision not to direct the film. He explained that Chris Nolan immediately stepped in, and the movie ultimately benefited from it. “It was a much better movie in Chris Nolan’s hands than it would have been in mine,” Spielberg said.

Why Didn’t Steven Spielberg Direct Interstellar?

Christopher Nolan’s version of the movie ended up being a polished, scientifically accurate epic. However, Steven Spielberg envisioned a more emotional and legendary approach – a style he and the screenwriter, Jonathan Nolan (Christopher’s brother), couldn’t agree on when they worked together on the project.

After Steven Spielberg’s contract with Paramount ended in mid-2008, the Interstellar project hit a snag. When his production company, DreamWorks Pictures, switched from working with Paramount (who owned the rights to the film) to Walt Disney Studios in early 2009, the project essentially stalled during its early planning stages.

Following that, Spielberg had to step away from the project, and in 2013, Nolan was confirmed as the new director.

Although Steven Spielberg didn’t end up directing Interstellar, he’s well-known for creating epic, visually impressive science fiction films. Some of his most famous include Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and War of the Worlds (2005).

The director’s new science fiction film, Disclosure Day, will be released this summer. The movie is about what happens when the world is suddenly faced with proof of UFOs and alien life. It will be in theaters on June 12, 2026.

The Most Underrated Steven Spielberg Movies

5. The Sugarland Express (1974)

Spielberg’s first major movie appears designed to showcase his talent for exciting car chases, a skill he’d first demonstrated in his earlier TV film, Duel. The story centers on a woman (Goldie Hawn) who helps her husband (William Atherton) escape from prison so they can rescue their son from foster care. What follows is a high-speed chase across Texas, filled with some of Spielberg’s most humorous scenes and culminating in a strong finish. While still a bit unpolished, the film clearly signaled that Spielberg was a director destined for greatness.

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Despite Sean Connery being only twelve years older than Harrison Ford, casting him as Indiana Jones’ father was a brilliant move, and their chemistry on screen was fantastic. Last Crusade feels a lot like a buddy cop movie, which is unique for Spielberg. While it’s the most comedic of the Indiana Jones films, it’s also the most heartwarming and deeply personal, exploring themes of strained father-son relationships and the passage of time in a surprisingly touching way. Raiders of the Lost Ark is often considered the best, but Last Crusade might actually be the most enjoyable and rewatchable.

3. The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Despite initially disappointing audiences and critics, The Adventures of Tintin now feels like Steven Spielberg’s final, thrilling Indiana Jones film. It’s a fast-paced, worldwide adventure filled with spectacular scenes and plenty of humor—a non-stop thrill ride. Spielberg embraced motion capture technology for the first time, directing Tintin with unrestrained creativity, as if finally given a full spectrum of colors to paint with after years of working with only one shade.

When reviewers in 2011 unfairly criticized the film’s impressive action and sweeping camera movements simply because they were created digitally, they were actually acknowledging Spielberg’s mastery. They were saying he’s such a skilled visual storyteller that he makes incredibly complex filmmaking look easy.

2. Bridge of Spies (2015)

Some might call Bridge of Spies old-fashioned, and they wouldn’t be wrong. It’s a long movie with a slow pace and a subtle visual style. But that classic approach actually suits the story, which focuses on traditional values. Like he did with Lincoln, Spielberg uses a historical setting to explore his idea of American heroism. He again stars Tom Hanks, who perfectly embodies the role of an ordinary, decent person – this time as an insurance lawyer tasked with defending a captured Russian spy (Mark Rylance). Though the film is set in the 1950s and 60s, its themes feel surprisingly relevant today. Plus, it’s filled with unique and memorable characters that feel like they’ve stepped out of a Coen brothers film – which is fitting, since the Coens actually co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Charman.

1. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

As a huge movie fan, I always find myself coming back to Catch Me If You Can. It’s such a fun, lighthearted film, but it also really gets under your skin with its themes of loneliness and the importance of family. And the cast? Incredible! Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant as the con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., and you’ve got Christopher Walken as his struggling father, plus Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams. Of course, Tom Hanks is perfect as the determined, but kind of sad, FBI agent Carl Hanratty. The way Hanratty chases Frank, and Frank’s amazing escapes, is both thrilling and surprisingly heartbreaking. It’s like both these guys are so lonely that this chase becomes everything to them – that annual Christmas phone call really says it all. Honestly, it might be the most beautifully sad Christmas movie since It’s a Wonderful Life. If you haven’t seen it, I’ve got a knock-knock joke for you…

2026-04-10 21:26