Harrison Ford’s crucial role in E.T.: How he helped shape the classic—then saw his own scene cut

Harrison Ford’s crucial role in E.T. creation reaches far beyond a simple cameo, as the beloved Indiana Jones star’s involvement was central to sparking the story that would become the 1982 sci-fi classic. While E.T. the Extra Terrestrial has been adored by audiences worldwide, few realize Ford’s influence on the film’s genesis and the remarkable events that led to its completion, even though his on-screen appearance was ultimately omitted from the final cut.

Spielberg’s Inspiration and Early Collaboration

In 1981, director Steven Spielberg was in the midst of filming Raiders of the Lost Ark in Tunisia, with Harrison Ford in the legendary role of Indiana Jones. During this time, Spielberg grappled with feelings of isolation, which prompted memories of an imaginary alien companion he had invented as a child. Spielberg described his childhood creation as

“a friend who could be the brother [he] never had and a father that [he] didn’t feel [he] had anymore,”

a significant presence during his parents’ divorce that provided comfort.

As Spielberg worked on Raiders, he used his emotions as creative fuel, beginning to envision a new project called Night Skies about an alien stranded on Earth. He confided in Melissa Mathison, Harrison Ford’s girlfriend and acclaimed screenwriter of The Black Stallion, hoping she might join the project. When Mathison initially declined, Spielberg turned to Ford for help, telling him about her reluctance. Spielberg recalled,

“She said, ‘Well, I’m retired from writing. I don’t write anymore. I’m not interested in writing anymore, it’s too hard.’ I went to Harrison and said, ‘Your girlfriend turned me down. She doesn’t want to write my next movie’”

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Ford intervened, and his enthusiasm for the story persuaded Mathison to reconsider. As Spielberg explained,

“He said, ‘Well, let me talk to her.’ He talked to her, and she came to me the next day and said, ‘OK you got Harrison so excited about this. What is it that I missed?’ I think I hadn’t told her the story very well because I told her the story again, and she got really emotional, and she committed right there in the Tunisian desert.”

Bringing E.T. to Life Through Collaboration

With Mathison now on board, she and Spielberg collaborated to develop the story that would become E.T. Over a period of editing Raiders of the Lost Ark in Marina del Rey, they would work for a couple of hours each day, mapping out characters and scenes. Spielberg shared,

“We would spend two hours a day for five days, and she would go off and write pages and come back. There were so many details for character that Melissa brought into my world from her world.”

The first draft was quickly recognized as special. Spielberg recounted,

“I went over to [Kathleen Kennedy] and said, ‘I think I just read the greatest first draft of my life — you have to read this.’ And she read it overnight and called me the next day and said, ‘I haven’t read a lot of scripts but this is the best script I’ve ever read.’”

Kathleen Kennedy would become one of Hollywood’s most influential producers, and her early endorsement cemented the film’s potential success.

Harrison Ford’s On-Screen Involvement and the Lost Scene

Given Ford’s impact on the project’s development, Spielberg offered him an acting role—a special cameo in E.T. Ford’s involvement could have become an unforgettable moment, yet anyone searching for his appearance will come up empty: it was excised from the final edit. Despite its absence from theaters, footage of the deleted scene would eventually surface online, prompting fans to wonder why it had been cut, as many felt its charm belonged in the film. Ford’s collaborations with Spielberg, notably in Raiders of the Lost Ark, have become cinematic staples, but this erased E.T. cameo remains something of a hidden treasure for enthusiasts.

On Set: E.T. and Ford’s Role as Principal

At a reunion marking the anniversary of E.T., Henry Thomas, who played Elliott, recounted his awe at meeting Spielberg and his idol, Ford. Thomas said,

“When I met Steven, the first thing out of my mouth was I think, ‘I love Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ and my hero was Harrison Ford. I basically was just excited to meet Steven in hopes that I would meet Harrison.”

His excitement stemmed from the hope of sharing the screen with Ford, but Ford’s brief part was limited to playing the principal at Elliott’s school.

The lost scene featured Ford giving Elliott a lecture while E.T.’s telekinetic powers caused comedic chaos. Spielberg described the filmed moment:

“He did the scene where E.T. is home levitating all of the stuff for his communicator up the stairs. Elliot is in the principal’s office after the frog incident. We don’t ever see Harrison’s face. We just hear his voice, see his body.”

The sequence escalated as, according to Spielberg,

“Henry’s chair starts levitating. So, as E.T. is lifting all of the communicator paraphernalia up the stairs, Henry starts rising off the ground in the chair until his head hits the ceiling. Just as Harrison turns, E.T. loses control of the weight of everything, and it all falls down the stairs, and Henry comes crashing down to the ground, and lands perfectly. Four-point landing. The principal turns around, and as far as he’s concerned, nothing ever happened.”

Ultimately, Spielberg’s editorial decision led to the scene’s removal, though its legacy continues among those who seek out rare cinematic moments. For Thomas, meeting Ford was a highlight, even if their potential on-screen partnership never flourished in E.T.

The Enduring Legacy of E.T. and Untold Stories

Harrison Ford’s crucial role in E.T. creation extends beyond what audiences saw onscreen, influencing the film at pivotal moments with a blend of encouragement and tangible collaboration behind the scenes. Alongside Spielberg, Melissa Mathison, and Kathleen Kennedy, his involvement fostered a creative environment that brought E.T. into existence. The now legendary deleted scene and Ford’s unseen performance add to the mystique surrounding a film that has captured imaginations for generations.

While Spielberg’s personal journey shaped the film’s emotional heart, the passionate contributions from everyone involved left a lasting mark on the history of cinema. The unseen influence of stars like Ford, paired with the creative prowess of the writers and producers, cemented E.T. as a classic—fueled by emotion, ingenuity, and a touch of movie magic.