Don’t worry, Spielbergophiles – when the director says he’s removing himself from Ready Player One, we’re not facing another Robopocalypse limbo situation. He’s simply removing references to his work from the film adaptation of Ernest Cline’s novel.
Talking with Entertainment Weekly about the anticipated project, which in book form at least, has its fair share of references to movies he’s made or produced, Spielberg says that he doesn’t want to overdo things. “The movie won’t have any of my films in it,” the director tells the mag. “I’m not putting myself in this movie.” The story, however remains a treasure trove of nostalgic nods to ‘80s icons. “They reference so many ’80s movies. I’m doing the whole pop culture thing. I’m just going to leave myself out of it. I can’t do that. Too self-referential.”
And Spielberg’s real interest in the book and now the movie is not really the past. “I think it’s the future,” he says. “I’m telling this story because I really feel what’s in Ready Player One is going to be in our lives before we know it.”
Despite an already packed workload that includes promoting Tom Hanks thriller **Bridge Of Spies **and editing/adding VFX to his next film, Roald Dahl adaptation The BFG, Spielberg is also preparing to make Ready Player One next year. “I’m trying to get the whole thing cast by the first of the year, and start shooting in July,” he says of the film, currently eyeing a December 2017 release. At this rate he’ll probably have worked in another film or two before it arrives. For more from Spielberg on The BFG, head to EW’s site.
Bridge Of Spies, meanwhile, arrives in the UK on November 27. You can find more about it, including our own exclusive chat with Spielberg in the latest **Empire.