Vin Diesel says Spielberg urges him to get to direction

Los Angeles, March 23 (IANS) Hollywood star Vin Diesel could be calling the shots as a director more often if filmmaker Steven Spielberg has his way.

Diesel had written, directed, and produced t in the self-starring 1997 movie "Strays", in which he played a drug dealer looking for a better life. Earlier, he had also directed and starred in the 1995 short film "Multi-Facial", which had led Spielberg to give him a role in his 1998 film, "Saving Private Ryan".



In a recent interview with The National, the 52-year-old actor said director Spielberg has been encouraging him to direct more often, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"Speaking of Steven Spielberg, I saw him recently, and he had said to me, 'when I wrote the role for you in 'Saving Private Ryan', I was obviously employing the actor but I was also secretly championing thedirector in you, and you have not directed enough. That is a crime of cinema and you must get back in the directing chair.'" Diesel said.

He added: "I haven't directed enough."



The star went on to say he hopes to complete a planned film series about famed Carthaginian military leader Hannibal Barca, who fought the Romans during the Second Punic War around 200 BC.

"I haven't done it yet. As much as I am grateful for the accomplishments, there are moments when I go 'God, you promised the universe, very specifically, the Hannibal Barca trilogy, and you haven't delivered it. You travelled all over the world'," he said.

For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.