How a Game of Dungeons & Dragons Helped Cast Elliot in E.T.

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The Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences has released a new episode of their fantastic web-series Academy Originals. I've really enjoyed what they've been doing by giving movie buffs a behind the scenes look at the stories behind the films that we love.

This latest episode gives us the story behind how Henry Thomas was cast in the lead role of Elliott in Steven Spielberg's classic film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. It turns out Thomas wasn't Spielberg's first choice to take on the role, and it was all thanks to a game of Dungeons & Dragons that lead to Thomas' legendary audition that won him the part.

The video features a recount of how everything came together as told by casting director Marci Liroff. 

Costume designer Marci Liroff ('Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom', and 'Mean Girls') recounts the story of how Henry Thomas was cast as the lead in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.' Subscribe and see Academy Originals first: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToAO Follow The Academy everywhere. Web: http://Oscars.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/theacademy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Th... Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Os...

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial släpps på Blu-ray för första gången 31 oktober. I restaurerat skick med nytt bonusmaterial.