Hollywood Writer Snubs Steven Spielberg For Dr Who 7/21/08

Hollywood screenwriter Steven Moffat has turned down a multi-million dollar contract with legendary director Steven Spielberg - to work on British TV show DR WHO.

Moffat was offered a $2 million (£1 million) contract by Spielberg to write the first two scripts for his forthcoming Tintin trilogy, based on the comic-strip hero.

But Moffat has now turned down the offer in favor of a position on the cult sci-fi show - replacing writer Russell T. Davies, who will step down within the next year. And Moffat insists he jumped at the chance to fulfill his boyhood dream of writing Dr Who scripts.

He says, "I know a lot of people won't understand it but I've been dreaming of writing for Dr Who since I was seven. There are no bad feelings between Spielberg and me, but Dr Who has to come before Hollywood.

I am working on scripts to be filmed next year. Russell T. Davies is doing four specials next, then my shows will begin. I talked to Steven and he completely understood. Steven is a fan and he understood my passion for the series completely."