Random Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'E.T. Extra-Terrestrial' (15 items)

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  (#2) Reese's Pieces Weren't The First Choice Of Candy

  Elliott and E.T.’s intergalactic friendship begins thanks to Reese’s Pieces, with the former leaving the latter a trail of candies in the woods. Hershey (which made the candy) went on to see its profits go up nearly 300% thanks to the use of the product, but it might surprise you to know that Reese’s Pieces weren't the first choice of candy. 

  According to William Kotzwinkle (who wrote his novelization based on the screenplay), the original script specified the use of M&M's. However, the Mars Company refused to go along with the deal, believing it was doing just fine, and didn’t want to peddle its product in Spielberg's film.

  Mars’s loss proved to be Hershey’s gain: The film made Reese's Pieces a regular commodity at movie theaters around the world. 
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  (#1) Three Actors Wore E.T.'s Costume, One Of Which Was A 12-Year-Old Walking On His Hands

  Scenes that featured E.T. moving around called for a full-sized costume (made with hidden slits in the alien’s chest so the wearer could see), which was worn by three different actors over the course of production.

  The first person to embody the character was Matthew DeMeritt, a 12-year-old born without legs whom Spielberg found through the UCLA Medical Center. DeMeritt's suit was rigged so that he could place his hands into E.T.'s feet and use them to walk. He's the one operating the suit for E.T.'s intoxicated scenes in the kitchen (when he falls on his face). 

  Eventually, the costume proved too taxing for DeMeritt, and production brought in Tamara de Treaux and Pat Bilon, two little people hired to complete additional scenes. The actors were often cooled off with blow dyers between scenes. 
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  (#7) The Full Moon Shot Was Filmed Practically With Puppets

  The famous image of Elliott and E.T. flying across the full moon was created using practical effects and puppets that were superimposed on the moon in post-production. According to the Industrial Light & Magic archive:

  ILM created the now iconic image of E.T. and [Elliott] flying over the face of a full moon using the studio’s Go-Motion technology combined with exquisitely crafted miniatures and puppet characters shot on a blue screen and then seamlessly inserted into live action plates.
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  (#13) There Were Plans For A Sequel

  Spielberg and Mathison wrote a story treatment for an E.T. sequel. The treatment is entitled E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears, and takes place the summer after the first film. In it, Elliott and his friends are abducted by a mutated race related to E.T.’s, led by an evil alien named Korel. E.T. shows up and rescues the kids, ultimately helping them get back to Earth.

  Spielberg abandoned this idea because he felt it would rob the original film of its purity, but you can read the treatment here. 

  William Kotzwinkle, who wrote E.T.’s novelization, penned a sequel to E.T. called E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet (fun fact: E.T. is technically a vegetable), which is set on the character’s home planet, Brodo Asogi. 
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  (#6) Spielberg Dressed Up And Trick-Or-Treated With The Kids While Filming The Halloween Scenes

  E.T. 's famous Halloween scene - in which Elliott and his brother dress their alien pal up as their little sister - was filmed in October 1981. Spielberg joined in on the Halloween antics by dressing up as an old woman for the entire day.

  When they wrapped filming for the day, Spielberg even bobbed for apples and went trick-or-treating with the cast.  
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  (#10) Initially, Spielberg Himself Was The Voice of E.T.

  Spielberg acted out most of E.T.'s dialogue by positioning himself beside the camera for the child actors to see (and better connect them with the character). In post, a raspy-voiced smoker by the name of Pat Welsh was hired (whose voice was mixed with the voices of 18 other people and various animal noises) to complete E.T.’s dialogue.

  Welsh was reportedly only paid $380 for her role. She also went on to be hired by George Lucas to be the voice of Boushh in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.  

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