Any time a new Steven Spielberg movie gets released, it becomes an event for cinephiles worldwide. With “West Side Story” and “The Fabelmans” having been released in back-to-back years, fans have been wondering, what’s next?
I was under the impression that Steven Spielberg’s next project would be his “Bullitt” reboot with Bradley Cooper, but when asked this morning at the Berlin Film Festival, the filmmaker admitted he actually has no idea what his next directorial effort will be.
I wish I knew [what was coming at next]. I was so involved with two films back-to-back… I never had a chance to think about what am I going to do when these two movies are over. And I sit here in front of all of you saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do next. I have no idea.
It’s kind of a nice feeling. And it’s also a horrible feeling. It’s nice that I can actually have control of my life again and makes my own choices in my real life. But I need to work and I love to work and that’s the biggest question I’m going to have with the rest of the year trying to figure this out.
With the already-mentioned “Bullit” remake, Spielberg also has a George Gershwin biopic, but did not mention either in today’s press conference. What he did reveal was that he is still developing the screenplay for Stanley Kubrick's lost film, “Napoleon,” into a 7-part limited series for HBO. Hopefully he gets a worthy filmmaker for that one.
Spielberg’s been professionally making movies now for well over 50 years. There isn’t much that he needs to prove. This evening, the Berlinale will be giving him their Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement. The ceremony will be followed by a screening of “The Fabelmans.”
Spielberg announced last month that he’s working on a documentary centered around his longtime composer, John Williams. He’s also had a bunch of projects fall by the wayside in recent years, including “Robopocalypse,” and “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara.”
Spielberg is 77. Time is ticking for many of these great old-school auteurs. It’s downright depressing just to think about it.