Steven Spielberg has once again made it clear that he has no interest in seeing Hollywood become a factory for reboots. According to the legendary director, the industry is relying too heavily on existing brands, and continuing down this path without original stories would not feel right.
Steven Spielberg says Hollywood is ‘going to run out of gas’ without original films
Speaking about the state of the industry at CinemaCon 2026, Spielberg said the future of cinema depends on taking risks on new ideas.
“If all we make is known, branded IP, we’re going to run out of gas,” Spielberg explained. He added that the current obsession with sequels and spin-offs is creating a creative collapse.
“There is nothing more important than giving the audience visual stories, and they can be in any form, but we need to tell more original stories.”
For Spielberg, the magic of the movies is inseparable from the surprise of the unknown.
He has repeatedly said he has no interest in seeing studios play it safe forever just to protect their bottom line. In his view, any version of Hollywood that stops inventing new worlds would simply fall short of its potential to move people.
The filmmaker has also become more outspoken about protecting the theatrical experience. He and other creators reportedly want to see longer exclusive windows for theaters to ensure that original films have the time to find their audience.
Recently, Spielberg joked that his answer to whether the industry can survive on just superheroes and sequels is that it’s simply not sustainable.
Despite the humour, he said he truly believes that too many modern studios ruin the medium by not investing in the next generation of storytellers.
“Audiences will find what they want to watch, whether the films are big or small,” Spielberg said. “But studios need to help us.”
Instead, Spielberg believes that projects like his upcoming sci-fi film Disclosure Day remain the perfect example of why original narratives are needed.
Although he has directed some of the biggest franchises in history, Spielberg has continued pushing for new concepts in other ways. He sees his current work as a companion to the blockbusters of the past rather than a replacement for them.
Spielberg is also reportedly working on a new retrospective project about his career, which is expected to be released in 2026 and look back at the making and legacy of his most iconic original films.
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