Spielberg Says Editing Guns Out of 'E.T.' Was a 'Mistake'

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Steven Spielberg says he regrets censoring E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker, 76, discussed his decision to change the equipment shown in a scene in the film where federal agents approach kids from guns to walkie-talkies during the TIME100 Summit at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

"That was a mistake," Spielberg said of taking firearms out of the hit 1982 film, which he directed. "I never should have done that."

His reasoning? "Because E.T. is a product of its era, and no film should be revised based on the lenses we now are either voluntarily or be forced to peer through," Spielberg said.

He added that while he was fine with his decision at first, his views have changed over the years.

"I should never have messed with the archive of my own work, and I don't recommend anybody do that," The Fabelmans director said. "All of our movies are sort of a measuring or side post of where we were when we made them."

Spielberg explained that he doesn't believe in editing out certain factors of a story to change the reality, citing taking "chocolate" out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: "I do not believe in censorship in that way."