Did Elliot and E.T. Ever See Each Other Again? Steven Spielberg Finally Settles the Debate

More than four decades after E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial first arrived in theaters, director Steven Spielberg has finally shared what happened to E.T. and Elliot after their emotional goodbye.

According to comments Spielberg made during an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with Emily Bunt and Josh O’Connor, the beloved characters never physically reunited after the events of the 1982 film. The revelation answers a question that fans have been asking for years.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains one of the most famous science fiction films ever made. The movie follows a young boy named Elliot, played by Henry Thomas, who forms a close friendship with a stranded alien. The story ends with E.T. returning home, leaving Elliot heartbroken as the two say goodbye.

While many viewers hoped the pair eventually found their way back to each other, Spielberg explained that their connection continued in a different way. Speaking on the podcast, the filmmaker said that Elliot and E.T. never met face-to-face again after the alien left Earth. However, their bond never completely disappeared.

“Never saw him again. But he did dream about him. So there was the psychic link between the two of them.” Spielberg also pointed to one of the movie’s most memorable moments when E.T. touches Elliot before leaving. “If you notice that ET touched Elliot right here and said, ‘I’ll be right here.’ That was for the rest of Elliot’s life.”

The director’s comments establish what he considers the official continuation of the story. According to Spielberg, E.T. and Elliot remained connected through a psychic bond, allowing the friendship to continue through Elliot’s dreams even though they were separated by vast distances.

Some fans may remember a different version of events that appeared in 2019. During the 93rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an Xfinity commercial aired featuring a grown-up Elliot, once again played by Henry Thomas. In the four-minute advertisement, E.T. returns to Earth and reunites with Elliot and his family during the holiday season.

The commercial quickly became popular because it served as a nostalgic follow-up to the original film. Although Comcast consulted Spielberg before producing the project, the commercial is not considered part of the official story. Based on Spielberg’s latest comments, the reunion shown in the advertisement exists separately from the film’s canon.

The possibility of a true sequel was also explored years ago. Spielberg and screenwriter Melissa Mathison developed ideas for a follow-up after the original movie became a massive critical and commercial success. However, the director ultimately chose not to move forward with another film.

Over the years, Spielberg has explained that he felt a sequel could damage what made the original movie special. In previous comments, he said making another E.T. film “would do nothing but rob the original of its virginity.” Earlier in 2025, he reportedly described stopping the sequel from happening as a “real hard-fought victory.”

Although E.T. never received a direct movie sequel, the character’s species briefly appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as background members of the Galactic Senate, creating a fun connection between two famous science fiction worlds.

For now, Spielberg’s latest comments provide the clearest answer yet. E.T. and Elliot never shared another physical reunion, but their friendship never truly ended. According to the director, the connection E.T. promised at the end of the film stayed with Elliot for the rest of his life.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!