How Dungeons and Dragons saved E.T.
Believe it or not, casting the role of Elliott in Steven Spielberg's iconic 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was not as simple as one might expect. The process involved a little bit of luck, a bit of chance, and even a game of Dungeons & Dragons.
In a video several years ago, casting director Marci Liroff revealed that the original actor chosen to play Elliott failed miserably in a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Spielberg wanted to see how the kids interacted to determine if the chemsitry between them would work. It was during this game that the d20 rolled rolled a 1, revealing the boys true nature and personality. Unfortunately, his personality was not what the director had in mind for the role, as he was not the sweet little angel that Steven Spielberg wanted to be Drew Barrymore's older brother and E.T.'s bestie.
"In about three minutes it became very clear that nobody liked this little boy," Liroff said. "He became very bossy-- it just showed he was not our kid. So I basically had to start over."
And start over she did. After this disappointing setback, Liroff had to begin the casting process from scratch. But then, nine-year-old Henry Thomas was recommended to her.
Once Thomas was flown out from Texas, he read lines and improvised in front of Liroff, Spielberg, and some others. Despite being relatively inexperienced in acting, Thomas's audition was so impressive that Spielberg knew he had found his Elliott.
Thomas's performance as Elliott in E.T. was praised by audiences and critics alike, and it launched his career as a child actor. He went on to appear another 80’s film based on Roleplaying games - Cloak & Dagger with veteran actor Dabney Colman.
The story of how Henry Thomas was cast in E.T. is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the film industry. It shows that even the smallest things, like a game of Dungeons & Dragons, can have a significant impact on the casting process. But it also shows that sometimes, when one door closes, another one opens. In this case, Henry Thomas's audition turned out to be a blessing in disguise, launching his career and giving us a memorable performance in one of the most beloved films of all time.
