The Fabelmans director Steven Spielberg states he’s open to directing television. The iconic director has sustained a highly successful career in the film industry spanning six decades with classic films, including Jaws, E.T., Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park and countless more. With four Academy Awards, Spielberg has established himself as one of the most celebrated filmmakers in cinematic history. His most recent film, The Fabelmans, is a semi-autobiography about a young aspiring filmmaker in honor of Spielberg’s own parents for their support throughout his career.
Film director Steven Spielberg is open to exploring long-form storytelling in television. In an interview with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett on their podcast SmartLess, the director opened up about the possibility of directing television in the future.
When asked whether he would have any interest in long-form storytelling, the West Side Story director states that he had been close to turning certain films into TV shows in the past and would be willing to direct a series given the opportunity. Here is Spielberg’s full response below:
“I do have an appetite for long-form, and someday, I will direct a long-form series. I mean, if someone would have brought me ‘Mare of Easttown,’ I would have done that. That was a beautifully directed story.”
Why Spielberg Should Direct TV
The industry has inarguably seen a shift from film as the primary, more sophisticated form of visual storytelling to television in recent years. Spielberg spent the majority of his career where film and TV did not mix, and there was very little crossover between the two mediums. Hence, the veteran film director has yet to dabble in television. In the past, the Indiana Jones director even denounced Netflix for its submissions to the Academy because they were not conventional theatrical releases. His stance at the time could have been interpreted as a staunch devotion to traditional cinema. However, in 2021, Spielberg signed a deal with Netflix to produce many films under his own company name, Amblin Entertainment, hinting that the director may be warming up to the streaming world.
Developing a story and characters arcs over many hours and the television medium could be a possible venture for the Jaws director, given his renowned skills and storytelling style. TV shows have become increasingly more sophisticated and cinematic throughout the past two decades. Spielberg himself is also no stranger to longer stories. His movies, such as the biopic Schindler’s List and the war film Saving Private Ryan, are nearly three hours long, and one can only imagine how much longer they would be had the format allowed Spielberg to dive deeper. Spielberg’s films have always been rich in action and emotion, and the path has now been paved for the director to make a smooth transition into a longer storytelling format.
Since Spielberg has many upcoming projects on his slate following The Fabelmans, it may be a few years before a Spielberg-directed television series comes to light. However, in light of Spielberg’s recent partnership with Netflix, chances are high that some projects might be in the works for the smaller screen. Regardless of the medium, the director shows no sign of slowing down as Spielberg continues to narrate spellbinding stories on the big screen.
Source: SmartLess Podcast