Steven Spielberg’s New Netflix Drama Breaks 17-Year Streak That Began After Clint Eastwood War Movie

Steven Spielberg is making a new Netflix drama called Maestro, and the film is breaking a 17-year streak that began after a Clint Eastwood war movie. Steven Spielberg has had a hand in all kinds of money genres, with him directing and producing a plethora of films throughout his long and successful career. However, one longstanding trend has been going for over a decade now, and Maestro will break this Steven Spielberg pattern.

Maestro is an upcoming Netflix film from director Bradley Cooper, with legendary director Steven Spielberg producing the movie. Maestro will explore the life of musical conductor Leonard Bernstein, with the film especially giving attention to Bernstein’s relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre. Maestro has already gotten all kinds of critical acclaim ahead of its Netflix release, with Cooper’s direction and performance as Leonard Bernstein receiving praise.

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Maestro Is The First R-Rated Movie Produced By Steven Spielberg Since 2006’s Letters From Iwo Jima

Maestro is an interesting entry in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, with it being the first movie produced by Spielberg since 2006’s Letters from Iwo Jima. This means that there has been a 17-year gap between the two R-rated films, with many fans wondering what about Maestro attracted Spielberg back to working on R-rated projects. Spielberg is often portrayed as a family-friendly director, and while he has made plenty of R-rated movies in the past, his involvement in Maestro will again show off his mature side.

Letters from Iwo Jima is the last R-rated film produced by Steven Spielberg, with it being unknown what caused Spielberg to go on his 17-year gap. Letters from Iwo Jima is a war movie directed by Clint Eastwood, with it following the story of a group of Japanese troops who fought on the titular island during World War II. Letters from Iwo Jima received massive critical acclaim, and Spielberg is undoubtedly hoping to recreate this success with Maestro.

Spielberg Directing Maestro Would Have Broken An Even Older Rating Streak

Interestingly, Spielberg’s involvement in Maestro almost broke an even older movie rating streak. Although Bradley Cooper ended up directing Maestro, Spielberg was initially signed on to direct the film. However, Spielberg decided to let Bradley Cooper direct the project after seeing A Star is Born, leading to the final film as it is today.

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If Steven Spielberg had directed Maestro, that would have made the film his first R-rated movie as a director since 2005’s Munich. This even longer gap would have been 18 years if Maestro had been released in 2023 as it is now. Although Maestro is apparently great, many viewers are curious as to what the Steven Spielberg-directed version would have been like.