Did David Cronenberg Really Refused To Direct These Two Blockbuster Movies?
The Canadian provocateur is known for his daring and creepy body horror films, but what could have been if Cronenberg had agreed to direct 'Top Gun'?
The Ionic director is widely regarded as one of the best filmmakers working today, and many of his films, such as 'Videodrome', 'The Fly' and 'Crash', are all considered well-aged cult classics. So Hollywood's decision to poach Cronenberg to direct its blockbusters didn't seem so far-fetched. However, the Canadian director turned down all high-stakes projects offered to him, including 'Top Gun' and an episode of 'Star Wars '.
In a conversation with Variety ahead of his new film 'Crimes of the Future' premiering at Cannes, Cronenberg spoke at length about why he refused to shoot for the major Hollywood studios.
"'Top Gun' was about American military stuff. It's true that I like machines, I like cars, I like airplanes, but it just wasn't something I was interested in to direct. Directing takes at least two years of your life. If you watch it, it takes two hours. So that's the difference," Cronenberg said.
However, the story of his rejection of George Lucas' offer to direct 'Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi' is much more amusing and a bit strange.
"I'm in my house in Toronto. The phone rings. I'm in my kitchen. The guy says, 'I'm from Lucasfilm. Are you David Cronenberg?' I say, 'yes.' He says, 'George Lucas is wondering if you would be interested in directing the next episode of Star Wars' ... And I said, well, I don't usually do other people's material at that point. I only did movies that I wrote. So immediately he hung up on me," Cronenberg remembers.
Fans of the Canadian horror maestro strongly support his decision to pursue his own career instead of focusing on studio material.
'Crimes of the Future' will shock audiences on June 3, 2022.