Ask a film historian when the modern age of filmmaking truly began, and chances are they will sayJaws. The world’s first blockbuster created a new era marked by heightened action, drama, and the technical prowess to move the camera in ways audiences had never dreamed of before. It was also the world’s introduction toSteven Spielberg, a man who would quickly become recognized as one of the best directors of all time. With countless classics likeIndiana Jones,Jurassic Park,Saving Private Ryan, andCatch Me If You Canunder his belt and showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, Spielberg has one of the most untouchable filmographies ever.
Throughout this acclaimed career, Spielberg has worked with some of Hollywood’s best and brightest stars, including A-listers likeTom Hanks,Harrison Ford,Leonardo DiCaprio,Tom Cruise,Daniel Day-Lewis,Meryl Streep, and many more. The list of actors who have lent their talents to some of Spielberg’s instant classics looks at a glance like a definitive who’s who of Hollywood…but only at a glance. However, comb through the casts of Spielberg’s biggest hits or even his more under-the-radar films, and audiences will discover some glaring omissions.These A-listers have never worked with Spielberg, meaning audiences are missing out on seeing him direct some of modern cinema’s most interesting performers.
10Ryan Gosling
Best known for ‘Barbie’ (2023)
Despite being one of the most popular actors of the 2010s,Ryan Goslingexploded even further in popularityin the 2020s. The star of such diverse genre films asThe Nice Guys,Blade Runner 2049and last year’s smash hitBarbie, Gosling has consistently proven himself as not only one of Hollywood’s most popular but also talented leading men. It is surprising, then, that his path has yet to cross with Steven Spielberg, especially considering the wide range of projects in which Gosling has succeeded.
This lack of collaboration between the A-listers, however, isn’t due to a lack of trust or respect. Just earlier this year,Spielberg was gushing over Gosling’sThe Fall Guy. Spielberg, of course, is known for his use of practical effects, sohis praise for Gosling’s film comes with a lot of weight behind it. Hopefully, for the sake of both the Oscar-nominated actor and the audience, Gosling will get the chance to perform some of these practical stunts in a future Spielberg.
9Will Smith
Best Known for ‘I, Robot’ (2004)
Will Smithwas among the most bankable starsfrom the mid-1990s all the way to the end of the 2010s. Despite his peak coinciding with some of Spielberg’s most productive years, Smith and the celebrated director have never collaborated on a film. Smith’s 2004 movie,I Robot, would’ve been a perfect vehicle for Spielberg’s directorial sensibilities and Smith’s leading man strengths.
Other notable close calls between the Oscar-winning actor and director include a variety of projects through Spielberg’s DreamWork’s animation, as well as the odd 2013 remake ofOldboy. Instead of theSpike Jones-directed,Josh Brolin-starring film audiences wound up with, the original vision for this Western remakewould have seen Spielberg and Smith joining forces. Smith definitely could have taken on the physical parts of the role, and Spielberg would have the technical prowess for the job.
8Margot Robbie
Best Known for ‘Barbie’ (2023)
Since her breakout role inMartin Scorsese’sThe Wolf of Wall Street,Margot Robbiehas become one of if not the most popular leading women in Hollywood. Aside from Scorsese, Margot Robbie has worked with other iconic directors, such asQuentin Tarantino,Adam McKay, andGreta Gerwig. Despite working with many of Tinseltown’s best, Robbie and her multi-billion dollar box office draw have never worked with Steven Spielberg.
The closest the pair have come to working together so far may have been whenSpielberg briefly stopped by theWolf of Wall Streetsetand assisted in one scene — sadly, it didn’t feature Robbie. This type of uncredited help is something that Spielberg does all the time, as he is one of Hollywood’s most respected producers and directors who’s always willing to offer a few suggestions here and there. Spielberg and Robbie may have missed their opportunity to work together butwill hopefully find a project to share in the future.
7Johnny Depp
Best Known for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl’ (2003)
Johnny Deppis an oddity on a list like this purely because of how many of his movies come close to capturing the types of adventures that made Spielberg famous. If uneducated viewers were asked to blindly guess who directedPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl, it would be reasonable to assume it was Steven Spielberg. Similarly, Depp’s powerhouse performance inDonnie Brascowould seem right at home in one of Spielberg’s more contemplative dramas, such asMunich.
Of course, Depp is best known for his association withTim Burton, a director who shares much of Spielberg’s taste for the dramatic and whimsical but twists those themes into more of a gothic, black comedy direction. Classics such asEdward ScissorhandsandEd Woodshowcase Depp’s ability to generate audience sympathy for quirky, abnormal characters. It is very tempting toimagine what Depp would look like in one of Spielberg’s more offbeat worlds, such as inE.T.orA.I.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
6Sandra Bullock
Best Known for ‘Gravity’ (2013)
For over three decades,Oscar-winnerSandra Bullockhas been a bankable movie star and well-regarded actress. Still, despite appearing in traditional blockbusters likeGravityand heart-pulling dramas likeThe Blind Side, Bullock has yet to work with the master of either of those genres, Steven Spielberg. Bullock excels at conveying the same spectrum of feelings that Spielberg has mastered,making any future collaboration between the pair a certain tearjerker.
The closest the two came to collaboration was viaThe Prince of Egyptin 1998. Spielberg played a crucial hand in the birth and development of DreamWorks in the late ’90s and was adamant that the story of Mosesshould be one of the new studio’s very first films. Though he didn’t have a direct hand in the film itself and guided from a distance,The Prince of Egyptwould be the closest Spielberg came to working with Bullock, as she voices the role of Miriam.
Best Known for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)
Steven Spielberg was once meant toadapt theMichael ChrichtonnovelEW (Emergency Ward)as a movie. However, the film ended up being a show that launchedGeorge Clooney’s career. While adapting it, Spielberg was also working on an adaptation ofThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a filmthat would languish in development for over a decadebefore finally emerging as one of Brad Pitt’s biggest hits of the 2000s.
More recently, in 2014,Pitt and Spielberg were both linkedto an adaptation ofRobopocalypseby authorDaniel H. Wilson, but nothing came out of it, and the novel remains unadapted. Brad Pitt has stayed a productive and talented dramatic actor for over three decades now, and Spielberg has similarly shown no signs of slowing down, sothere is still time for the two to work togetheron a project fitting both of their talents, such as a war film like Pitt’sFuryor Spielberg’sSaving Private Ryan.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4Frances McDormand
Best Known for ‘Nomadland’ (2021)
With three Best Actress wins at the Academy Awards and a host of other honors to her name, Frances McDormand has a more than fair claim to the title of most celebrated actress of all time. While not the biggest movie star or box office draw, especially compared to the others on this list,McDormand has long been one of Hollywood’s most celebratedand recognized talents. The actor has appeared in such indomitable classics asFargo,Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, andNomadland,all of which garnered her much-earned hardware at the Academy Awards.
It is surprising that one of the best-regarded actresses of her time and an equally iconic director have never collaborated on a dramatic project. Spielberg is constantly moving from genre to genre and idea to idea, but McDormand has shown an incredible range in film, effortlessly going from comedy to drama. She is known for her dedication to her craft and ability to disappear into a role, making it all the moreshocking that her talents have never been utilized for one of Spielberg’s many projects.
3Denzel Washington
Best Known for ‘Training Day’ (2001)
With two Academy Awards under his belt forGloryandTraining Day,Denzel Washingtonis another extremely talented actor who has yet to work with similarly skilled Spielberg. What sets Denzel Washington apart from some of his contemporaries are his talents as a director and how that knowledge base may play into collaborating with such a brilliant mind as Spielberg’s.
Having directed such films asFencesandA Journal for Jordan, Denzel Washington is building a strong resumé as a filmmaker and is even being acknowledged by his peers. Perhaps, in collaboration with Spielberg, Washington would be able to use some of these skills tocreate a truly masterful movie that ended in more Oscar gloryfor them both. Hopefully, these two masters of their craft can have another opportunity in the future to share in each other’s talents.
Training Day
2Al Pacino
Best Known for ‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Al Pacino is one of the best actors of all time and, in many eyes, the undisputed actor of the ’70s.Serpico,Dog Day Afternoon, andThe Godfatherare all classic films made during Pacino’s 1970s “miracle run.” The latter film is often regarded as the greatest ever made and was so impactful when it was releasedSpielberg considered quitting filmmaking altogether, seeing the art form as perfected.
Shockingly, however, these classic filmographies don’t feature a single point of crossover. The closest Spielberg and Pacino’s paths came to crossing was whenPacino turned down the starring rolein Spielberg’s second feature, filmClose Encounters of the Third Kind. Still, viewers can’t help but wonder what could’ve been with Pacino’s acting and Spielberg’s deft hand and realism tackling the science fiction genre. Despite both going on to work steadily for the next forty years,Close Encountersremains the pair’s only close encounter.
The Godfather
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1Robert De Niro
Best known for ‘Raging Bull’ (1980)
If someone does not list Al Pacino as the best actor of his generation, it is near-certain that they will instead choose hisHeatcostar,Robert De Niro. One of the most awarded actors of all time, Robert De Niro has been in some of the most recognizable and memorable actors of all time, includingRaging Bull,Taxi Driver, andGood Fellas. Like Pacino, however, Robert De Niro has never been in one of Steven Spielberg’s classic films.
De Niro is, of course, a common leading man forMartin Scorseseand has appeared in ten of the director’s twenty-six feature films. Thus,De Niro has had little need for roles in Spielberg’s projects. Still, the prospect of seeing two men often considered at the peak of their respective fields is tantalizing to audiences. And with De Niro showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, a collaboration with Spielberg would not only be timely but actually necessary.
