The on-set dynamics of the film Hook were reportedly not limited to the fictional conflict between Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Behind the scenes, tensions were said to exist between director Steven Spielberg and actress Julia Roberts.
The 1991 film featured the late Robin Williams as Peter Banning, a lawyer who has lost touch with his childhood in Neverland until Captain Hook, played by Dustin Hoffman, reappears. Julia Roberts took on the role of Tinker Bell.
As a sequel to J.M. Barrie’s book Peter and Wendy, Spielberg took the directorial helm for Hook.
Much of Roberts’ scenes as Tinker Bell were shot against a green screen and not in the company of her fellow actors, primarily interacting with Spielberg. This reportedly led to tensions, with rumors of her being labeled as ‘Tinker Hell’ due to alleged on-set clashes with Spielberg.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly that same year, Roberts addressed the rumors, claiming she had ‘never heard’ of the nickname.
However, she acknowledged some tension during the filmmaking process, sharing, “I’m a normal person. I mean, if I sit in my trailer for six hours doing nothing, I’m going to say, ‘What the f**k is going on?’”
Spielberg also spoke about their working relationship during an interview with 60 Minutes, admitting, “It was not a great time for Julia and I to be working together.”
When questioned about any future projects with Roberts, Spielberg responded, “This is a 60 Minutes question, isn’t it?”
Following the airing of that interview, Roberts told Variety Fair: “He took these hesitations as if he had to choose his words very carefully when asked about me.
“I watched it and thought, Is this the same man I had whipped-cream fights with on the set? Is this the same man who said that he couldn’t wait every day to get to our stage because it was more fun than the big stage?
“I guess sometimes it’s just too tempting to be in the majority.”
Meanwhile, Julia’s niece, Emma Roberts, who has established a notable career in film and television, recently suggested that her family ties have actually hindered her career at times.
In an interview with Flaunt, Emma stated, “I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained from being in the business,” and added, “People have opinions and sometimes maybe they’re not good opinions of people in your family.
“I’ve never gotten a job because of it, I know I definitely have lost a couple of jobs because of it.”