E.T. returns to Earth to reunite with Elliott in new holiday short
E.T and Elliott (Henry Thomas) reunite decades after the original E.T: The Extraterrestrial in a short film promoting Xfinity services.
The company first teased the ad Nov. 26 with a tweet showing off a clip of dead flowers coming back to life.
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The caption reads: “Something magical is coming this holiday season.”
Something magical is coming this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/5gMKVOF9MW
— Xfinity (@Xfinity) November 26, 2019
The commercial is a sequel of sorts and premiered during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Syfy and ABC. It begins with Elliot’s children playing in the snow until they see something going on in their backyard. Turns out it’s just the little alien coming to visit his old friend.
Henry Thomas (The Haunting Of Hill House) is pleased with the short film, and doesn’t think it was an injustice against the original.
“The audience is going to get everything they want out of a sequel without the messy bits that could destroy the beauty of the original and the special place it has in people’s minds and hearts,” Thomas says in an interview with Deadline.
The original movie was directed by Steven Spielberg and premiered in theaters June 11, 1982. It went on to be nominated for nine Oscars and won four.
According to Deadline, Spielberg thought about creating an official sequel but didn’t want to ruin the magic of the first film. The director did have a hand in the ad though, and was consulted throughout the process of its creation.
Fans on Twitter were quick to express their joy for the new short film.
Sky TV …. You’ve just won best Christmas TV advert!!!! ?? #ETReturns #Christmas2019 #HenryThomas https://t.co/1aMfjcrP1j
— Deano Jones (@Deanojones14) November 28, 2019
The sequel I always wanted, now I want the full movie! ? ♥️ #ET #HenryThomas https://t.co/Y2XxaqzO3D
— kathy ? @CusickGallery #TeamCusick #IansBand (@kwag58) November 29, 2019
Um.. damn Xfinity.. made me cry… I loved every second of this. Had all the feelsies of the the original film. Can only dream of being a film so endearing to all❤️ #ET #80s #henrythomas #actorslife #actresslife https://t.co/ipiKPJLCAZ
— gwen ruhoff (@GRuhoff) November 29, 2019
Ohhhhhh @Xfinity , you crafty mofos, you. Wow. This one totally got me in all my emotional centers and I’M NOT EVEN THE BIGGEST ET FAN! Very well done commercial and kudos to #HenryThomas for going back “home” to do this one. #ET #AllTheFeels https://t.co/Uk21bBkFRM
— John Rocha (@TheRochaSays) November 28, 2019
What are your thoughts on E.T reuniting with Elliot in the Xfinity commercial? Sound off in the comments below!
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