Steven Soderbergh turned down the offer to direct DEATH BECOMES HER and explains why

In the early 1990s, director Steven Soderberg he was offered the job of directing the playful supernatural dark comedy Death becomes her. He was offered the job not long after his huge success with 1989’s Sex, lies and videotapes, but ultimately refused. The film was directed by and starred Robert Zemeckis Bruce Willis, Meryl StreepAND Goldie Hawn.

The film was written by David Keopp who has worked with Soderberg on projects such as the 2022 film Kimi and the more recent horror film Presencepremiered at the Sundance Film Festival last week.

During a recent interview with Variety, the director was asked about any film projects he had turned down and he responded by saying:

“I want to preface this by saying I hate it when people talk about things they’ve broadcast. Whatever the reason, I feel like I’m not convinced it’s good form to do so.

But Soderbergh went on to admit that he had been offered the chance to direct Death becomes herand explained why he refused:

“I remember reading it and immediately thinking it was very funny. And also immediately recognize that this is way beyond my capabilities. The technology they were using was intimidating. There was no universe in which I could do that. I knew you needed someone with a similar technical structure to Zemeckis to execute it. It was a hard ‘you got the wrong guy’, that’s what it was.

Koepp says of Soderbergh: “I really wanted him to direct it, but he thought it was a difficult step. I’m stealing a joke from Steven, but he really feels like he doesn’t want to do something if he’s not a ‘hell yes.’”

It’s admirable that Soderbergh knew his limitations as a young director. Nowadays, when young directors are offered big directing assignments, they often still accept knowing that they are not qualified or prepared for the job.

Zemeckis ended up doing a great job with the film. I remember seeing the movie with my friends at the theater and we loved it! I haven’t watched it in a long time, but maybe it’s time to watch it again.

The film follows the story of two lifelong rivals, played by Streep and Hawn, who become entangled in a bizarre and supernatural quest for eternal youth and beauty. After both women consume a mysterious elixir that grants them immortality but also makes their bodies immune to injury, they embark on a centuries-long journey filled with jealousy, revenge, and dark humor. Willis plays the hapless husband caught in the middle of their rivalry.

Soderbergh and Koepp continue to work together as the pair just sold a spy thriller titled Black backpackhero Michael Fassbender AND Cate Blanchettto focus on the features.